Sudanese opposition leader arrested while filing petition

Security services in Sudan briefly detained government critic Mariam al-Mahdi on Thursday. Mahdi was arrested in Khartoum as she travelled with a group of activists to petition for the release of protestors detained two weeks ago. Mahdi is the daughter of Sadeq al-Mahdi, the premier Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir overthrew in 1989, and a leader of the Umma party.

Reuters

"She was beaten, she was insulted, and she was dropped at the headquarters of the Umma party in Omdurman," a member of the Umma party, who wanted to remain anonymous, told RFI.

"Its intimidation so that she doesn’t come back to do this kind of protest," she added.

Her arrest took place after about 30 women set off to present their petition to the head of the Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Mohammed Atta. Among the activists were a number of mothers of those detained last month during anti-government protests.

Just as the group were leaving security forces arrested Mahdi. A contingent then followed the remaining members to the NISS headquarters where some of the women attempted to hand over their petition.

There were anti-government protests in Khartoum and other parts of northern Sudan at the end of January, mainly organised by activists via the internet. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse them, and arrested more than 100.

"The government doesn’t want any of what happened in Tunisia and Egypt to happen in Sudan," the unnamed source said.