Report by the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Theo van Boven


United Arab Emirates

Urgent appeals

1844. On 15 November 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal, concerning Abdelaziz Khalid Osman, a 60 year-old Sudanese national. According to the allegations received, he is at risk of imminent forcible return to Sudan. On 23 September, he was arrested by the authorities at the Abu Dhabi airport on his arrival from Cairo, Egypt, and is in detention in an Abu Dhabi prison. The authorities are said to be considering a request from Sudan for his extradition. Although he has had access to a lawyer, he reportedly has not been given the opportunity to challenge his continuing detention, or any decision on his forcible return to Sudan, before a court. He is said to suffer from recurring back pain and high blood pressure. Abdelaziz Khalid Osman, a political opponent of the Sudanese government, is the chairman of the Sudan National Alliance/Sudan Alliance Forces (SNA/SAF), an armed political group in Eastern Sudan.

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small logo   This report has been published by Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights on July 27, 2005.