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CWS Urges Intercession on Behalf of International Award Nominee and Colleague

May 13, 2005

NEW YORK / NAIROBI – Learning that the government of Sudan has charged Sudanese humanitarian Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and colleague Yasir Saleem with espionage, international humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS) is accelerating its appeal to the Department of State, the UN, and the Sudanese Embassy in Washington to intercede on behalf of the two men, who are now being detained in Sudan.

This morning, in absentia, Mudawi received an international Front Line Defenders humanitarian award, presented in Dublin by Ireland’s President, Mary McAleese.

Mudawi and Saleem are in the custody of Sudan’s Attorney General for Crimes Against the State, reportedly charged with “espionage against the country” and “entering and photographing military areas and work.” Both crimes are punishable in Sudan by either death or life imprisonment.

Mudawi, Saleem and their driver were arrested Sunday (May 8) – the third arrest in a year for Mudawi – this time, on the eve of Mudawi’s scheduled departure for Dublin to receive his award.

On Wednesday, Associate Director of CWS’s Education and Advocacy Program for International Justice and Human Rights Martin Shupack further pursued Department of State (DOS) intercession and learned that DOS Special Sudan Advisor Ambassador Michael Ranneberger’s office has asked the U.S. Embassy in Sudan to investigate the circumstances of Dr. Mudawi’s arrest.

CWS initially launched formal protests earlier this week on behalf of the detainees with the U.S. Department of State and the United Nations and delivered a communiqué to Ambassador Khadir H. Ahmed at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, requesting that Ambassador Ahmed see to the immediate release of Mudawi and Saleem and their driver, who was also arrested. The driver was released by Sudanese authorities on Thursday.

Church World Service learned of the formal charges against Mudawi from one of its partners in Sudan, non-governmental agency (NGO) the Sudan Social Development Organization. (SUDO). Mudawi is chairperson of SUDO, an organization active in monitoring human rights abuses in Darfur, and is the first recipient of the humanitarian award established by Ireland-based advocacy organization Frontline Defenders.

“It seems a bit coincidental that the Government of Sudan would again detain Dr. Mudawi, so close to the date of his humanitarian award,” says CWS Executive Director and CEO Rev. John L. McCullough. “We protest Dr. Mudawi's treatment and are working in collaboration with other NGOs who have a vested interest in the well-being and humanitarian treatment of the people of Sudan.”

Mudawi was previously arrested by Sudanese authorities on two occasions in 2004 and spent seven months in police custody, charged in connection with his human rights work of committing offenses against the state. Following the hearing of his trial on August 7, 2004, all charges against him were dropped and he was released.

In CWS’s communiqué to the Sudanese Embassy, McCullough stated, “We hope you treat our request with due diligence and continue to support the progress made in the North-South Sudan peace process.”

A copy of the letter was also delivered to the United Nation’s Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Sudan, H.E. Elfatih Mohamed Ahmed Erwa, and to the UN Security Council.

Church World Service is urging the Sudanese authorities to:

1. Immediately release Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and his colleague Yasir Saleem;

2. Ensure that Dr. Mudawi and Yasir Saleem have access to a lawyer and to their families;

3. Ensure that Dr. Mudawi Yasir Saleem and Yasir Saleem are treated humanely while in custody, adhering to all those conditions set out in the ‘Basic Principles for Treatment of Prisoners,’ adopted by General Assembly resolution 45/111 of 14 December 1990.

UK agency Christian Aid, Ireland’s Front Line, and U.S.-based Human Rights First are among the organizations demanding Mudawi’s release.

Church World Service and its 35 member denominations are outspoken on the need for lawfulness in Sudan and are helping to support a $35 million appeal for aid to Sudan’s displaced populations and to peacemaking and conflict resolution.

Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526;

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