Historian Khalid Behiri Sentenced to Life: A Court ruling met with condemnation

Historian Khalid Behiri was arbitrarily arrested without a legal warrant, furthermore, a period of enforced disappearance followed, lasting for several months prior to his trial.

The subsequent life sentence handed down by the Criminal Court in Wad Medani, Al-Jazeera state to prominent Sudanese writer and historian Khalid Behiri has sparked outrage and widespread condemnation from human rights and civil society circles.

Whilst the court based its decision on accusations of collaboration with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), civil society groups and human rights organizations described the trial as politically motivated and lacking the minimum standards of criminal justice and legal integrity. They argued that the case lacked clear legal evidence and represented a blatant violation of the Constitution and International Conventions that guarantee the right to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence.

Broadly Worded Charges 

The verdict came after a trial that drew sharp criticism from the defense. Behiri was convicted under broadly worded articles of the Sudanese Penal Code, including charges of undermining the constitutional order and waging war against the State.

The Court’s reasoning indicates that the case was marred by serious constitutional violations from the outset, For seventy-year-old Behiri was arbitrarily arrested without a legal warrant and subjected to enforced disappearance for several months prior to his trial. This -naturally- led to a loss of confidence in the fairness of the proceedings as well as their impact on social peace.

A Strongly Worded Warning 

For its part, Al-Jazeera Human Rights Monitor issued a strongly worded warning, stating that imprisoning a man of such advanced age, who suffers from kidney failure and chronic illnesses, is tantamount to a slow and disguised death sentence.

The statement explained that the harsh detention conditions Behiri endured for a full year, deprived of necessary medical care, pose a direct threat to his life. It called for urgent intervention to secure his release on compelling humanitarian grounds before his health deteriorates further beyond repair, especially since his continued detention under such conditions violates international legal and humanitarian standards.

Humanitarian Efforts 

Observers and activists believe that Behiri was targeted because of his tangible humanitarian efforts, put forth during the Rapid Support Forces’ control of Al-Jazeera state. The historian, considered the living memory of Wad Medani, refused to leave his city and headed service initiatives to fill the administrative vacuum, effectively saving thousands of lives.

These efforts included launching the “MedaniDrinks” initiative to provide clean water to those stranded and establishing a fully equipped medical tent to provide first aid, food, and treatment. This activity was interpreted politically after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) managed to regain control of the city, transforming the acts of “community service” into those of an accused collaborator in a case that legal experts describe as a politically motivated settling of scores.

Calls are mounting for the annulment of the verdict or a retrial before an independent judicial body that guarantees transparent proceedings and an independent investigation into the circumstances of the arrest. Furthermore, human rights groups emphasize the need to stop using the judiciary as a tool in the political conflict, stressing that Sudan’s stability hinges on the independence of the judiciary and its ability to deliver justice and protect civilians, free from the prevailing military polarization.