The Sudanese Alliance for Rights strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearance of Khaled Beheiri, a respected 70-year-old writer, historian, and community leader, who was taken from his home in Wad Madani, Gezira State, on 14 January 2025 by security authorities.
Despite the ongoing armed conflict and the seizure of Wad Madani by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mr. Beheiri chose to remain in his home city. Rather than flee, he committed himself to helping his community in setting up a medical aid tent outside his home and launching the “Madani Drinks” initiative to supply clean water to residents in desperate need. These were acts of compassion and service, grounded in civic duty—not political alliance.
Mr. Beheiri is widely recognised as a lifelong advocate for the rights of workers, farmers, and marginalised communities, and had been actively involved in peaceful protests against the regime of Omer Al-Bashir and the military coup of 2021. His commitment to justice and dignity for all Sudanese people has never wavered.
On 14 January 2025, security forces raided his home and arbitrarily arrested him without any warrant, justification, or legal process. Since then, he has been held incommunicado in an undisclosed location, with no access to his lawyer or family, constituting an enforced disappearance under international law.
His family, through unofficial sources, later learned that his health had deteriorated, leading to a transfer to Al-Managil Hospital on 10 October 2025, where he remained under guard for five days before being returned to an unknown location. To date, no formal charges have been filed against him.
An officer reportedly accused Mr. Beheiri of cooperating with the RSF, a baseless claim that Wad Madani residents firmly reject, affirming that his work throughout the conflict remained purely humanitarian and unaffiliated with any armed group. This arrest is clearly politically motivated, targeting him for his peaceful civic activism and outspoken opposition to military rule.
This unlawful detention and continued concealment of Mr. Beheiri’s whereabouts constitutes a violation of Sudanese national law, including provisions in the Interim Constitution, which guarantee personal liberty, protection from arbitrary arrest, the right to legal representation, and access to fair judicial process. His arrest without warrant and denial of access to legal counsel and family flagrantly undermine these protections.
Regionally, this case is a clear breach of Sudan’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which it is a state party. Article 6 guarantees the right to liberty and security of person, while Article 7 ensures the right to be heard before a competent court, presumption of innocence, and access to legal defence. By detaining Mr. Beheiri without charge or trial, the Sudanese authorities are in direct violation of these commitments.
Internationally, the arrest and disappearance of Mr. Beheiri violates Sudan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Article 9 of the ICCPR prohibits arbitrary arrest and requires prompt information on charges, while Article 14 guarantees the right to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent tribunal and access to legal counsel. Additionally, this act contravenes the principles of the UN Declaration on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, which affirms the right of individuals to promote and protect human rights without fear of reprisal. While Sudan has not ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, its conduct in this case violates norms of international law recognised as customary and binding.
The Sudanese Alliance for Rights calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Khaled Beheiri. We demand full disclosure of his current whereabouts and urgent access to his family, legal counsel, and appropriate medical care. An independent and transparent investigation must be conducted into the circumstances of his arrest, health condition, and the violations committed during his detention.
We further urge national, regional, and international human rights bodies—including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders—to take swift and concrete action to secure his release and prevent further reprisals against peaceful activists in Sudan.
Khaled Beheiri’s courage lies in his compassion. His activism is his legacy. His freedom is our demand.
Signed,
Sudanese Alliance for Rights
20 June 2025
