Sudanese armed forces arrested 45 people of the Ma'alia...

Sudanese armed forces arrested 45 people of the Ma'alia tribe in Adila province, in southern Darfur state. They were arrested from Adila town and from neighbouring villages. The leader of the team which carried out the arrest, Mohamed Alhassan Ali Alimam, is a high ranking officer (Major) ( Amead in Arabic). They were transferred to Nyala prison on 6 July 2003. The 45 men were accused of attacking a village belonging to the Riziegat tribe on 1 July 2003 and the killing of at least seven people from the Riziegat tribe. Both tribes are Arab. The detainees were badly treated during the arrest, and eight of them were subjected to torture by the armed forces. Two of those who were subjected to torture are: Hassan Mohamed Esmaeal and Altayib Yousif Ajeeb. They had solid metal objects inserted into their anus and were beaten by sticks. The accused total 53 people, among them six minors. The accused faced six articles under the Penal Code (21, 24, 107, 130, 168, 183) and they may be sentenced to death or amputation or cross amputation if they are convicted.