Delegations of the Sudanese Lawyers’ Association for Rights and Freedoms have travelled to the two states of Blue Nile and Sennar in order to defend detainees affiliated to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (North).

The detainees have been held in the prisons of Sennar, Sinja, and Roseires since the outbreak of conflict in Blue Nile in September 2011. Dozens of detainees are still held despite the release of 23 in recent weeks.

Tijani Hassan, the head of the team of lawyers, told Radio Tamazuj while on visit to Damazin that they would meet the heads of the state judiciaries and the investigation committee to plead for the detainees which are 84 in number and facing charges related to the penal code and anti-terrorism laws.

He added that they are putting more pressure on the competent authorities in order to send these detainees to court for fair trial. “Our visit is to find out whether the detainees’ documents are sent to the court or not, in addition to know the time and place for the trials as well as the status of the witnesses,” Hassan explained.

Another delegation will be in Sinja to review the conditions of the detainees there and meet the prosecutor, he said.