KHARTOUM, 14 October 2003 — Sudanese opposition leader Hassan Turabi was pardoned yesterday after more than two years under house arrest and returned home to hundreds of cheering supporters. Men and women wept outside Turabi’s home in the capital, hugging him and shouting, “Allahu Akbar,” or “God is Greatest.”
Abdel-Salam Gizouli, Turabi’s lawyer, told the Associated Press that Sudanese President Omar Bashir had pardoned Turabi, leader of the Popular Congress Party, and seven other political detainees. “The country has freed any person detained for political reasons,” state-run Radio Omdurman announced.
Speaking to reporters at home hours after his release, Turabi said he had been released due to internal and international pressure. “I will continue working for the same principles for which I was arrested: democracy, freedom of expression and human rights,” said the smiling, healthy-looking Turabi, dressed in a white robe and turban.
In the courtyard outside, men and women wept with happiness. Sheep were slaughtered to welcome the leader on his return. Turabi, a hard-line Islamic leader, had been speaker of Parliament and Bashir’s staunchest ally before they fell out in 1999. Bashir accused Turabi of trying to grab power and dissolved the Parliament, stripping Turabi of his position.
“A presidential decree was issued yesterday for the release of Popular Congress leader Sheikh Hassan Turabi and other detainees, and the lifting of an embargo on activities of the party,” Popular Congress Deputy Secretary-General Abdullah Hassan Ahmed told reporters. Ahmed gave no details of the other prisoners freed but earlier reports said four people would be released with Turabi.
Turabi was first detained Feb. 21, 2001, a day after announcing his party had signed a peace deal with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, the main rebel group fighting Sudan’s government since 1983 for greater autonomy for the largely animist and Christian south. Turabi was placed under house arrest three months later.
The Sudanese government has taken steps toward political reform in recent months, releasing 32 other political prisoners in August, ending newspaper censorship and lifting a travel ban on some opposition politicians.
