A Sudanese court on Monday sentenced 29 intelligence officers to death for torturing and killing a teacher.

Ahmad al-Khair, 36, died in custody in February following his arrest for taking part in protests against former President Omar al-Bashir’s administration.

These were the first sentences handed down over the crackdown on pro-democracy activists in the months before Bashir was toppled in April.

The prosecution said the death sentences were a just punishment.

After the sentencing, the judge asked al-Khair’s brother, Sa’d, whether he wanted the 29 men to be pardoned – but he said he wanted them to be executed instead.

A lawyer for the defence said he would appeal the ruling.

Under Bashir, Sudan enforced the death penalty, and two people were executed in 2018.

Al-Khair’s case drew widespread attention in Sudan, and his killing fuelled the protests against the 75-year-old former president.
A huge crowd rallied outside the court in Omdurman, the twin city of the capital, Khartoum, to hear the verdict.

The court found that Al-Khair was beaten and tortured to death by the officers at a detention centre in the eastern state of Kassala. (BBC)

Source:- Vanguardngr.

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