Endangered Scholars Worldwide is gravely concerned for the safety of 12 Sudanese student activists who were detained without charges after protests in Khartoum university.
The National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) arrested 10 activists on May 5 while they were in a meeting at the office of a prominent human rights lawyer, The Middle East Online reported. Two other students were detained on May 7 in a village outside Khartoum.
Students from the University of Khartoum have held near-daily protests in the past few weeks, demanding the release of fellow pupils detained at previous demonstrations.
"There are serious concerns for the safety of the students who have been denied access to their families and lawyers," said a joint statement by the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), and the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS).
The organizations said the 12 activists are being "detained incommunicado and without charges by NISS." They urge the Sudanese authorities to release them.
Those detained had recently been dismissed or suspended from studies at the University of Khartoum, following protests on the campus.
Prior to the the 12 arrests, three other students were detained and accused of attacking a police officer during a protest at the university.
In April 2016 two students were killed in a protest.
Endangered Scholars Worldwide respectfully urges the authorities to investigate the situation and immediately release the students.