Hands Off Cain
NEWS ARCHIVE·DEATH PENALTY·DECEMBER 29, 2004
Sudan

88 from the Rezeiqat ethnic group, including the two children...

88 from the Rezeiqat ethnic group, including the two children...

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88 from the Rezeiqat ethnic group, including the two children, sentenced to death in July 2002, were released on 29 December 2004, and their death sentences were quashed. 
They had been arrested in May 2002 after clashes between the Rizeiqat and Ma'alia ethnic groups in South Darfur, in which at least 10 people died.
At least 45 Ma'alia were also arrested in May 2003, after Ma'alia attacked and killed several Rizeiqat in retaliation for earlier killings. They were also tried, but most were acquitted due to "lack of evidence". One man from the group of accused, Abdallah Agai Akot, of Dinka ethnicity, was condemned to death and has also now been released. All were released after a government-sponsored reconciliation conference, in October 2004, between the two ethnic groups. The Rizeigat will reportedly now pay diya (blood money) in compensation for the Ma'alia who died, while the government will pay diya to the Rizeigat for the deaths they suffered. The High Court then quashed the death sentences.
SOURCES
  • (Sources: AI, 06/01/2005)