Sudan kicked off on Monday the trial of 11 former regime officers and security personnel accused of torturing to death one of the most prominent activists of the December revolution. The suspects are also charged with attacking the activist’s funeral service with tear gas and batons.
The lawsuit against the murderers of medical student Mahjoub al-Taj Mahjoub is the third of its kind to bring former regime figures to justice for torturing and shooting peaceful protesters.
Sudanese courts have already issued death sentences against perpetrators of manslaughter against demonstrators and activists.
The first court session in Mahjoub’s murder case was held amid a crowd of activists who showed up in support of the victim’s family and friends. They raised signs demanding the death penalty for his killers.
However, the court adjourned the session to next Monday to grant defendants the right to appeal.
Mahjoub died on January 24, 2019, after he was beaten and tortured in police custody.
He was arrested at his university while attempting to defend female students from beating by security forces as they were taking part in anti-Bashir protests.
Mahjoub’s mother, in a court speech covered by state news agency SUNA, demanded justice for her lost son and voiced her trust in the court and judges, saying that revolutionaries and the families of activists are all waiting for the trial of the perpetrators.
The 11 suspects include officers at the rank of brigadier, colonel, lieutenant colonel, and captain of the former national security agency.
