El-Obeid prison authorities in Sudan’s Northern Kordofan state transferred 13 female detainees to Kadugli last Sunday in preparation for their release.  Meanwhile, 18 other female detainees continue to be held in El-Obeid.

The defence lawyer for the detainees, Osman Hassan, told Radio Tamazuj that El-Obied prison authority claimed that they received a letter from their counterparts in Kadugli requesting only 13 detainees to be transferred.

Those due to be released are: Fatahia Abdel Muthalab, Samia Hussein, Aisha Hussein, Aisha Humaida, Najat Ibrahim, Nadia Yusuf, Majda Mubarak, Rasail Murad, Fatima al-Tijani, Mouja Makki, Nazak Bashir, Ahlam Abdel Gadir, and Ann Yusuf.

Witnesses in Kadugli confirmed the arrival of the women on Sunday afternoon as dozens of family members gathered at the prison to welcome them.  Prison authorities, however, prevented them to spend time with the detainees, asking that families return on the second day, once their release paperwork is complete.

32 women were detained in South Kordofan last year by the Sudanese government’s security agencies for having alleged ties to the rebel group, SPLA-N.  They were transferred to El- Obeid prison where family members complained of not having access to them while one of the ladies, Kadija Mohamed Badr, remained in Kagulias a result of poor health.

Related: Women’s Politician Coalition give assistance to female detainees (22 March 2013)