A criminal trial of 82-year-old opposition leader Farouk Abu Issa and human rights activist Amin Mekki Madeni, aged 76, is expected to start today in Khartoum.

Both leaders signed the “Sudan Appeal” document in Addis Ababa and consequently were accused of instigating violence and undermining the country’s constitution.

In the previous sitting, the court rejected a request to consider Abu Issa and Madeni’s age and release them on bail, adjourning proceedings until 2 March.

Mohamed El Dud, who is working for Peace and Development Flags organization confirmed that the court sitting would start today.

He described the trial of the two opposition figures as “unjust”. El Dud who was in detention along with the opposition leaders before being released in early February said another detained politician Farah Agar has not been taken to court yet.

There is no any case opened against him even, according to the former detainee.

Elsewhere, several opposition figures in Sennar State are also expected to appear before a criminal court today Monday. Local authorities recently arrested about seven opposition members who were organizing an anti-election rally in the state.

Some of the arrested figures were identified as Abu Obeida Saeed, a leading member of the Sudanese Communist Party, El Mahi Suleiman of the Sudanese Congress Party as well as several students from the Independent Students Congress.  All the opposition members were released before being taken to court.  

Photo: Supporters welcome Faroug Abu Issa (wearing a white turban) as he disembarks from a police lorry