Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Sudan: Families of Former Bashir Officials Want Them Released from Prison Due
to COVID-19

Michael Atit

   KHARTOUM - FormerSudanese National Congress Party chairman Ahmed
   Harounhastested positive forCOVID-19 in prison,according toa family
   member who isasking thatHarounbe placed under house arrestso he can
   receive better care.

   Sudanese health authorities have not confirmedthe status of Haroun,an
   ally of ousted president Omar al-Bashir.

   Hossam Ahmed Haroun, one of Ahmed Haroun's sons, toldVOA'sSouth Sudan
   in Focusthathis father tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday andhas
   been moved toa police hospital in eastern Khartoum.

   Underlying health problems

   HossamAhmed Haroun says his father has underlying health problems.

   "My father is diabetic and recently had an operation formeniscus on his
   knee and his health situation had been very bad. All of them
   [detainees] are above age 65 and almost all of them are suffering from
   different underlying diseases,"hesaid.

   Hossam Ahmed Harounsaid family members wrote several letters to Sudan's
   transitional authorities two months ago requesting that their father
   and other political detainees be released and kept under house arrest
   during the pandemic so they could access better health services.

   So far, he says, they have heard nothing back.

   "We hold the head of the Sudan Sovereign Council, theprimeminster and
   thepublic prosecutor with full responsibility of the health situation
   of our father and his fellow detainees,"hetold VOA.

   No charges filed

   Ahmed Harounand other officials from Bashir's administration have been
   held inKhartoum'sKober Central Prison since last April when military
   leaders ousted Bashir from power. Most detainees have never been
   charged in a court of law.

   Ahmed Abdallah Al Bashir,the former president'snephew, said he worries
   about his uncle's health, "and to make matters worse, since the first
   case of Covid-19 was confirmed in this country, we were not allowed to
   visit them. We are really worried about their health,"hetold South
   Sudan in Focus.

   BothHossam Ahmed HarounandAhmed Abdallah Al Bashirare calling on the
   transitional government to try the detainees in a court of law or
   release them. They urged national and international rights groups to
   intervene on behalf of political detainees in Sudan.

.