Realness Institute Calls for Release of Hajooj Kuka, Sudanese Artists
Realness Institute joins the call of the global film industry in the call for the release of Sudanese artists Hajooj Kuka (Realness ‘20), Duaa Tarig Mohamed Ahmed, Abdel Rahman Mohamed Hamdan, Ayman Khalaf Allah Mohamed Ahmed and Ahmed Elsadig Ahmed Hammad.
The five artists were arrested at the Civic Lab where they work to create art for community engagement. During the COVID crisis, Civic Labs were responsible for creating hundreds of educational murals across the country, distributing meals and water to needy families, and making powerful films that delivered crucial public health messaging. These artists have steadfastly poured their energy into helping their country get through this difficult transition period by creating spaces for vital conversation about Sudan’s future. Hajooj Kuka is Sudan’s most well-known director, screening his films at dozens of international festivals while creating critical new narratives for Sudan to navigate its future, including the award-winning Beats of the Antonov and A Kasha. The other artists represent some of Sudan’s brightest new voices and are dedicated to using art to educate the public and to demand social justice. They are Duaa Tarig Mohamed Ahmed, Abdel Rahman Mohamed Hamdan, Ayman Khalaf Allah Mohamed Ahmed and Ahmed Elsadig Ahmed Hammad. Duaa played an integral role in founding the Civic Labs which support artists across the country. Now they are jailed, and their voices stifled at a time when Sudan needs them most.
We concerned about the safety of Hajooj Kuka and his fellow artists and call on the Sudanese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him and his fellow artists and encourage all film and culture institutions around the world to do the same
We join GISA (Sudan) and the international community in demanding the following:
1) Release the 5 Civic Lab members until a just and impartial trial can be organized and the charges dropped against the other 6 artists.
2) Launch an investigation into all those involved in the fraudulent proceedings and terminate those responsible for the abuse. Amend the police law which grants impunity to police forces and make it nearly impossible for citizens to raise complaints against the abusive police officers.
3) Fast track legal reform by suspending the ability of the police and judges to use Article 69 and 77 of the criminal code, to criminalize citizens at will and amend criminal procedures act and evidence acts which give the law enforcement more power to criminalise citizens and poses a barrier to achieving justice.
4) Make a public statement defending the rights of Sudanese citizens to freely express themselves without fear of persecution and in particular to stand up for women to express themselves in the public sphere.
We ask that you share this statement far and wide and join the efforts to pressure the Sudanese authorities into releasing these 5 artists.
Many of which can be found on Twitter: Sudanese PM - @SudanPMHamdok; Sudanese Minister of Justice -@nasabdulbari
#HandsOffSudaneseArtists