The Sudanese Alliance for Rights strongly condemns the brutal and unlawful killing of Lawyer Ahmed Felaija, which occurred earlier this month in the Dar Al-Salam neighborhood of Omdurman City, Sudan.
Following the Sudanese Armed Forces’ (SAF) takeover of Block 20 from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a widespread campaign of arbitrary arrests was launched against civilians accused of collaborating with the RSF. Many civilians were arrested and subjected to severe and brutal forms of torture.
Unfortunately, among the victims was Lawyer Ahmed Felaija, a respected legal professional who had remained in his home throughout the conflict. He was reportedly killed in an inhumane and gruesome manner. This killing constitutes a flagrant violation of Sudanese law, amounting to an extrajudicial killing, a criminal offense that denies individuals their legal right to due process and protection under the law.
Felaija’s killing also stands in direct violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, including:
- Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees the right to life and prohibits arbitrary killings.
- The Geneva Conventions, which prohibit violence to life and person—particularly murder—against individuals not actively participating in hostilities.
- The UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, which call for the protection of legal professionals from threats, harassment, or harm related to their duties.
We call for:
- An immediate, independent, and impartial investigation into the killing of Ahmed Felaija and related violations in Dar Al-Salam.
- Full accountability for those responsible, irrespective of rank or affiliation.
- Protection for civilians and legal professionals in accordance with both Sudanese obligations and international law.
The inhumane killing of a lawyer who stood for justice is an assault not only on one individual but on the very principles of the rule of law. This crime must not be met with silence.
Sudanese Alliance for Rights
21 May 2025
