Defense Lawyer of Hamdok Faces Charges That Could Lead to Life Imprisonment
Sudan Events – Agencies
From defense attorney to defendant — this is the story of Montasir Abdullah, the former legal representative for Sudan’s ex-Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and several political leaders in the former “Taqaddum Coordination” alliance, who now faces criminal charges that could lead to life imprisonment.
His trial, scheduled for last Monday in Port Sudan, was suspended without an official explanation from the court. The delay coincided with the second witness session in the trial of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemedti,” his brother Abdel Rahim, and 14 RSF leaders accused in the murder of West Darfur Governor Khamis Abakar.
In April 2024, Sudan’s Public Prosecution filed charges against former Prime Minister Hamdok and 15 others, including party and media figures. They are accused of “undermining the constitution and waging war against the state,” charges that carry the death penalty.
Among those charged are Yasser Arman, head of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – Revolutionary Current; Omar Al-Digair, head of the Sudanese Congress Party; his deputy Khalid Omar Yousif; Al-Wathiq Al-Barir, Secretary-General of the Umma Party; former Foreign Minister Maryam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi and her brother Al-Sadiq; and former Sovereign Council member Mohamed Al-Faki Suleiman.
Security forces arrested lawyer Montasir Abdullah in Port Sudan last September, just hours after he submitted a legal request to represent defendants from the “Taqaddum Coordination” in case no. 1613 filed against Hamdok and various political leaders and activists. Abdullah is now charged under Articles 51 and 52 related to crimes against the state, and Article 53 related to espionage — all of which carry penalties of life imprisonment.
The Emergency Lawyers Group, a human rights organization monitoring violations during the Sudanese war, stated that the lawyer submitted a legal request to the Public Prosecution and was arrested without legal justification. He has not been released to this day. Asharq Al-Awsat was unable to obtain a response from Sudanese human rights authorities regarding these allegations.
The group added in a statement on Tuesday that “the lawyer was subjected to severe violations, including physical and psychological torture, which constitutes a blatant violation of his legal rights and those of lawyers in general.” They demanded his immediate release and declared the procedures against him void due to the lack of fair trial guarantees, including his right to freely and safely appoint legal representation.
The human rights organization called on the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders to intervene immediately to protect the lawyer and all human rights defenders in Sudan from such practices, which they say undermine justice and civil liberties.
A judicial source stated that the arrest of Montasir Abdullah violates the 1991 Criminal Procedures Act, which guarantees every defendant the right to legal representation. “Abdullah is a licensed lawyer and entitled to practice this right.” The source added that detaining the lawyer and turning him into a defendant without his name being included in any filed complaints “amounts to a politically motivated act.”
In a statement to Asharq Al-Awsat, the source said, “This reflects the use of the law as a tool against political opponents and undermines the principle of fair trial.” The source, who requested anonymity, described the move as intimidation meant to deter other lawyers from defending political leaders.
Meanwhile, a lawyer from the Democratic Lawyers Alliance — a group of attorneys from across the political spectrum — said that the more than seven-month delay in bringing Montasir Abdullah to trial “is itself part of the punishment imposed by Sudanese authorities.” She added, “He committed no crime, and there is no evidence against him. He was simply doing his job. His arrest is a major constitutional violation that strips him of his rights as a lawyer.”
The legal source also revealed that the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights had contacted the Sudanese government about the issue, but no response was given. According to the source, at least 300 individuals are currently detained in Port Sudan on similar charges, including doctors, engineers, and company directors, all of whom are being denied fair trial rights.
