Sudanese security operatives on Tuesday released the human rights defender Mudawi Ibrahim Adam from prison and all charges against him dropped through a general amnesty declared by President Omar al-Bashir.

The release coincided with the visit of the American delegation to Sudan to acquaint itself with progress made by Sudan government on human rights issues in the country before the US sanctions are lifted.

Mudawi was released along with five other human rights defenders. The charges against him include undermining the constitutional system and waging war against the state, both of which carry either the death penalty or life imprisonment. Mudawi spent eight months in prison.

Amnesty International said in a statement that Mudawi’s detention represents a grave miscarriage of justice and his release must serve as a first step towards ending the criminalization of human rights work in Sudan.