Kadugli prison authorities in South Kordofan released 13 women who were detained there and in el-Obeid for months for alleged links to the Sudanese rebel group, SPLM-North.
The defence lawyer for the women, Osman Hassan, stated that they were released after a guarantee that the defendants would return for questioning if requested to do so by authorities.
Dozens of citizens offered to adopt the responsibility of guarantor in order to ensure the women’s release, according to Hassan.
He pointed out that those now freed are the group who were transferred from el-Obeid to Kadugli prison two weeks ago, while another 18 remain in detention in El-Obeid.
However, he suggested that those 18 may also be transferred to Kadugli soon in order to be questioned once more in preparation for their release.
Of approximately 35 women arrested by security authorities for alleged links to the SPLM-N movement, none of them have appeared in court or been tried under these charges.
The lawyer pointed out that their release came one day after talks began between the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N.
Another 84 detainees continue to be held in Damazin prison after Blue Nile state authorities arrested them in September 2011.
Saleh Hamad, a defence lawyer and member of an advocacy committee, complained on behalf of the detainees that they have spent 18 months in detention without trial.
Claiming that their health is worsening, Hamad echoed the pleas of the prisoners’ families in calling for them to be tried or released.
Related: 13 South Kordofan women re-investigated despite expected ‘release’ (22 April 2013)