April 8, 2021
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and FIDH, has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Sudan.
Description of the situation:
The Observatory has been informed about the sentencing of Ms.
Waad Bahjat, women’s rights defender, blogger and member of the Umbda Resistance committee, an organisation that promotes civil and economic rights in Sudan.
On March 31, 2021, the Khartoum Criminal Court sentenced Ms. Waad Bahjat to a 6-month suspended prison sentence and to a fine of 10.000 Sudanese pounds (approximately 22 Euros) on charges of "public annoyance" and "use of criminal force" (art. 77 and 143 of the Sudanese Criminal Act). Ms. Bahjat was subsequently detained at the police station attached to the court for several hours after the judgement and released the same day following the payment of the fine. Ms. Bahjat will appeal the decision.