To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
FREE RUDWAN-- (A USA RESIDENT) HELD IN PRISON IN SUDAN
Free Mr. Rudwan Dawod.
Why is this important?
Rudwan Dawod spent six months in Sudan and South Sudan last year leading a number of humanitarian projects and was featured in an Al Jazeera documentary titled, "How to Mobilize a Million" (watch it on YouTube). In his most recent trip back to South Sudan at the end of May, he was leading a reconciliation effort in which Muslims would help re-build a Catholic church in protest to a recent church-burning in Khartoum.
The government of Sudan was aware of Rudwan's plans to enter his native country and they were waiting for him. Approximately ten days after he arrived in the north, Rudwan was arrested along with a dozen others in Al Haj Yousif at a demonstration he helped organize through Girifna, a youth movement calling for change in Sudan through peaceful, non-violent protests. They were speaking out against the austerity measures and increasing cost of food and basic goods, and against the violent crimes of the government.
The police beat Rudwan unconscious and then went to his home to arrest his father and brother. They vandalized their home, stealing their money and valuables. Shortly after, Rudwan was taken to the NISS headquarters while the others remained in Haj Yousif Police Station. He was deprived of sleep and was tortured for days as they mocked and insulted him for his work in re-building the church in South Sudan. They beat him on his back and feet until he fainted, trying to coerce a false statement from him that he was CIA. Local government-controlled papers featured front page stories that a “terrorist cell” had been arrested and the leader was married to an American. It claimed we were part of a Darfur military movement supported by South Sudan to bomb several market places in Khartoum.
While initially held incommunicado with visits denied to any lawyer or family member, Rudwan was soon transferred to a prison in Omdurman by order of the court after he appeared visibly exhausted and unable to walk well. We believe media pressure also played a key role in his transfer. The others being held in Haj Yousif were brought to Omdurman Prison to join Rudwan, where they remained until everyone except Rudwan and Ahmed Kawarti were acquitted on July 25th.
There are five (5) charges against Rudwan and Ahmed, including Attempt, Abetment, Rioting (with violence), Calling for opposition to public authority (with violence), and Criminal and terrorist organizations (with violent intent). The most serious charge is punishable up to ten years in prison or the death penalty. The court will make their decision on August 13th.
Armed with only a flyer, Rudwan and Ahmed are completely innocent of any of these accusations and fabricated lies. The flyer called for others to demonstrate against the lack of food, increasing transportation fees due to loss of oil subsidies, and unemployment rate after graduation. They asked others to take to the streets and protest against the corruption of the government that caused the secession of the south, destruction and death in Darfur and the mass killings in Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile. (Copy of flyer available upon request.)
Please help us keep the pressure on Sudan 's government to release Rudwan, Ahmed and the thousands of other peaceful protestors being held. It is NOT a crime to call for peace, equality, justice and democracy in Sudan !! For the love of his country, it was Rudwan’s conscience-duty.
“The only guide to man is his conscience; the only shield to his memory is the rectitude and sincerity of his actions. It is very imprudent to walk through life without this shield, because we are so often mocked by the failure of our hopes and the upsetting of our calculations; but with this shield, however the fates may play, we march always in the ranks of honor.” Winston Churchill
Nancy Dawod
Springfield, Oregon
The government of Sudan was aware of Rudwan's plans to enter his native country and they were waiting for him. Approximately ten days after he arrived in the north, Rudwan was arrested along with a dozen others in Al Haj Yousif at a demonstration he helped organize through Girifna, a youth movement calling for change in Sudan through peaceful, non-violent protests. They were speaking out against the austerity measures and increasing cost of food and basic goods, and against the violent crimes of the government.
The police beat Rudwan unconscious and then went to his home to arrest his father and brother. They vandalized their home, stealing their money and valuables. Shortly after, Rudwan was taken to the NISS headquarters while the others remained in Haj Yousif Police Station. He was deprived of sleep and was tortured for days as they mocked and insulted him for his work in re-building the church in South Sudan. They beat him on his back and feet until he fainted, trying to coerce a false statement from him that he was CIA. Local government-controlled papers featured front page stories that a “terrorist cell” had been arrested and the leader was married to an American. It claimed we were part of a Darfur military movement supported by South Sudan to bomb several market places in Khartoum.
While initially held incommunicado with visits denied to any lawyer or family member, Rudwan was soon transferred to a prison in Omdurman by order of the court after he appeared visibly exhausted and unable to walk well. We believe media pressure also played a key role in his transfer. The others being held in Haj Yousif were brought to Omdurman Prison to join Rudwan, where they remained until everyone except Rudwan and Ahmed Kawarti were acquitted on July 25th.
There are five (5) charges against Rudwan and Ahmed, including Attempt, Abetment, Rioting (with violence), Calling for opposition to public authority (with violence), and Criminal and terrorist organizations (with violent intent). The most serious charge is punishable up to ten years in prison or the death penalty. The court will make their decision on August 13th.
Armed with only a flyer, Rudwan and Ahmed are completely innocent of any of these accusations and fabricated lies. The flyer called for others to demonstrate against the lack of food, increasing transportation fees due to loss of oil subsidies, and unemployment rate after graduation. They asked others to take to the streets and protest against the corruption of the government that caused the secession of the south, destruction and death in Darfur and the mass killings in Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile. (Copy of flyer available upon request.)
Please help us keep the pressure on Sudan 's government to release Rudwan, Ahmed and the thousands of other peaceful protestors being held. It is NOT a crime to call for peace, equality, justice and democracy in Sudan !! For the love of his country, it was Rudwan’s conscience-duty.
“The only guide to man is his conscience; the only shield to his memory is the rectitude and sincerity of his actions. It is very imprudent to walk through life without this shield, because we are so often mocked by the failure of our hopes and the upsetting of our calculations; but with this shield, however the fates may play, we march always in the ranks of honor.” Winston Churchill
Nancy Dawod
Springfield, Oregon