Activists demand investigation, say 15 students are still in prison, about 20 unaccounted for
LONDON, Oct 15 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Female students were groped, taunted and threatened with sexual assault during a government raid on a dormitory in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, an act of "excessive and unnecessary force", a human rights group said on Wednesday.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) said government security forces assaulted and sexually abused up to 70 female students, many from Darfur, while emptying the Zahra dormitory complex for renovation on Oct. 5 and 6.
Several students were arrested and taken to the National Security and Intelligence Service (NISS) offices, where officers beat and interrogated them about their political leanings before sending them to Omdurman prison for women, HRW said.
researcher Jehanne Henry said it was not uncommon for government forces to use guns and batons as they had a "history of using violence against students."
"Regardless of the legality of the eviction, the security forces have used excessive force and violence against students yet again," Henry told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
"While this was not a political incident, it is another example of obvious violence and abuse, which is always the first resort of the authorities," she said in a telephone interview from Nairobi.
Sudanese authorities ordered the students in late September to move out of the dormitory complex for it to be renovated, but many protested, especially those from Darfur, a turbulent western region, saying they had nowhere else to go, HRW said.
Witnesses told HRW that on Oct. 5, during the Eid al Adha holidays, plainclothes security officials surrounded the dormitory and arrested at least 20 students outside the building, dragging many into cars.
The next day, the security forces were joined by welfare administrators and pro-government students wielding sticks, who raided the dormitories, broke down doors, beat students, arrested at least 11 and forced others to flee.
BEATEN WITH BATONS
One student told HRW she had been collecting her possessions when six policemen entered the room and beat her with batons on her chest, arms and back.
"I screamed and ran out and left my possessions, among them precious things like money," she said.
Sudanese activists believe 15 students are still in prison, held without charge and without access to lawyers or family visits, and at least 20 are missing, according to HRW.
"The violence against these young women during the eviction only increases the fears for those who have not been able to contact their families or lawyers," said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at HRW.
The rights group has called on the Sudanese authorities to investigate immediately all reported abuses against the students, and release or charge all those still in detention.
Just over a year ago the worst unrest in central Sudan for years took place in Khartoum, where fuel subsidy cuts led to anti-government protests and clashes with security forces.
Rights groups and some diplomats said up to 150 people died when security services opened fire on crowds. The government said the protesters were "vandals" but denied shooting any of them and put the death toll at 34. (editing by Tim Pearce)
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