1. HOTEL WINDOW SHOTS THEN INSIDE AND SADIQ ...
COMMENTARY:
I'd come to a city hotel somewhere in East Africa -my
journey to this secret rendezvous had been relatively
easy But for Sudiq Adem Osman - the man I was meeting,
the road here had been long and traumatic.
Sot Sadiq Adem Osman
"These are the rope marks where I was tied…..here's a
big one....."
I'd been tipped off about his story by a humanitarian
group, the Aegis Trust in Britain, who helped him
escape from the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, where he
says he had been tortured by Sudanese security
services.
UPSOT "Here, and here, and here," ( Sadiq says as he
pointed to torture > > marks.) "There are too many of
them. Too many.."
SOT .......SADIQ ADAM OSMAN
"They came from all sides, there were three people
doing the torturing. One was doing the questioning,
another beating me, another behind me.
SOT.............."I was bleeding eerywhere, I was
soaked in blood. I expected to die. I never thought I
would be alive now."
UPSOT "Here, and here, and here," ( Sadiq says as he
pointed to torture > > marks.) "There are too many of
them. > Too > > many.." > >
Sadiq says he escaped within an inch of his life - and
while the scars where he was held down with metal
hooks are healing, clearly the mental scars will take
much longer.
So how did Mr Osman end up the clutches of the
Sudanese security SERVICES: answer he had been sent to
khartoum by the British government - another failed
asylum seeker.
Campaigners say his case could present the most
important challenge yet to the Home Office policy of
deporting Darfuris to Khartoum.
ARCHIVE DARFUR...
it was in 2004 that sadiq fled the violence in his
Darfur homeland. He says he was worried because his
brother was a rebel fighter and he feared for his own
life, having been previously detained and tortured. He
says he decided to flee after his mother and another
brother were killed when their village was attacked by
the janjaweed Arab milita and Sudan's air force.
THE UN says more than 200,000 people have been killed
and 2 million others have fled Sudan's western Darfur
province. Just this week Tony Blair called the
situation 'unacceptable' - reportedly floating the
idea of enforcing a no-fly zone. Encouraged by such
words of international support thousands of Darfuris -
like Sadiq - have headed for Europe, and the UK.
PICTURES OF PHOTOS OF SADIQ IN demo. In London UK
(SOUND....)
After his arrival in Britain in 2004 he sought asylum
and joined fellow darfuris in anti Khartoum
demonstrations in London. We obtained these photos
from a protest held just 15 months ago, showing a much
younger looking Sadiq.
his asylum application though was already in trouble -
the Home office view - that he should be sent back as
Khartoum was safe.
SOT INIGO GILMORE PTC
Sadiq's two year legal battle ended in failure in the
courts -- despite the existence of what seemed a
strong piece of evidence that he faced persecution if
returned home. -- This: apparently a warrant for his
arrest from a military court - unknown to him - and
presented to his family in 2004 - he was sent it at
the end of last year.
But the document was never translated for his asylum
application. We did translate it.
GFX - ANIMATION
It (apparently) set out reasons for the decision to
arrest him, including TITLE - The Republic of Sudan /
Department of General Security /North Darfur State
Date: 14/08/2004 Reference: 4/61
1/ You have been detained for treason against the
state national security in 1990 to 1991.
that he'd been detained for alleged "treason" in 1990,
and
2/ You have passed valuable information in favour of a
movement led by your brother MOHAMED ADAM OSMAN.
later provided information to his brother - a
commander in the Sudanese Liberation Army.
It warned that he faced prosecution if he failed to
turn himself in.
face prosecution in a military court under section 312
og the law of the state general security.
His new lawyer finds it astonishing that the Home
Office's failed to translate the document.
SYNC LAWYER
SOT Jovanka Savic
Sutovic & Hartigan Solicitors
"His case had gone through the whole legal system
since September 2004 on the basis that he was at risk
in Darfur and should not be sent back there but it was
safe for him back to Khartoum. This document was
material evidence that showed he was not safe in
Khartoum and it should have been translated by the
representatives and the home office. And it was not.
And the system failed him."
(PIX OF INIGO ARRIVING AT SUDANESE EMBASSY IN UK)
~Comm.
It's a system that operates in close cooperation with
the Sudanese embassy in London - Darfuri deportees are
routinely brought here for processing. So I went there
to talk about Sadiq's case with the ambassador. Even
he conceded an arrest warrant would have been taken
seriously by the Home Office. xxxxxxx
SOT
Omer Siddig
Sudan AMBASSADOR to the UK
Ø "had it been correct the Home Office here would >
not have let him be repatriated to the country…….
Ø > > (26.10) > > Inigo: ''You just said that if shows
that he was under threat from the Khartoum
government... > > > SOT Omer Saddig
SOT Sudanese AMBASSADOR to UK....
"That document is just a fake. that is why the Home
office, probably, did not pay any attention to it…."
But according to Sadi'q lawyers the documment is
authentic, as are his torture claims. I showed the
ambassador the video evidence I had of sadiq's
injuries.
SUDAN Ambassador SOT…."This is a claim he is making
from his side and I cannot > > confirm or deny that
this thing happened. Still the door is open > > before
him to > seek > > legal advice against whoever did
this… > > > >
Inigo Gilmore: "but you are not denying it happened…"
> > > >
Ambassador: "And I cannot confirm it too…." > > > >
Inigo: "So it is possible he was tortured?" > > > >
Ambassador…"As I say I cannot deny and I cannot
confirm.
If it is as > > he claimed, he can persue his claim
before the legal system in the > > country."…With
these scars he definitely has a good case….and he can
> > persue it through the legal > system… > > >
And he did concede though that Sudan's security
service had committed abuses. > (19.17)
SOT AMBASSADOR ........"Violence is committed in
Darfur and lots of cases > were given to the legal
system and those who committed such crimes > were
sentenced, including some army officers, security
officers."
Inigo Gilmore: So you are saying some abuses are
taking place at the hands of the security services?
Ambassador:
"In Darfur yes there are some violations. But things
like this to happen in Khartoum is very remote,
definitely…." But campaigners say that the risk of
torture in Khartoum is anything but remote and that
Darfuris detained in the UK a new round up in recent
days could face the same fate. John Bercow, a Tory MP,
raised the torture issue in the House of Commons this
week after seeing our evidence.…
SOT John Bercow Member of Parliament, Conservative
party international spokesman > > "We are sending
these asylum applicatns back into hands of a vile and
> murderous regime....It has been difficult to
document what happens > because those people we have
sent back have just disappeared... > That is why
Sadiq's case is so important…He has reemerged to show
just what > happens when darfuris are returned and so
his case is very > significant." >
We put Sadiq's detailed claims to the Home Office,
point by point - they replied with just a general
statement.
> > GRAPHIC>>>> > > HOME OFFICE STATEMENT > > In line
with current case law we continue to consider that it
is safe > to return to Sudan those Sudanese nationals
who have been found by > both the Home Office and the
independent appeals process not to be in > need of
international protection. > > ... We do not routinely
monitor > the treatment of individuals once removed
from the UK - we would not > remove them if we
considered that they were likely to suffer >
persecution on their return >
UPSOT Professor robbins….."Tell me what happened when
you arrived in Khartoum…"
At his secret hideout a leading clinical psychologist,
Professor Ian Robbins, has been brought to assess
Sadiq. Both he, and an independent medical examiner
have judged his mental and physical condition to be
consistent with undergoing torture - including
whipping with electrical flex - at the time Sadiq
claims it happened - following his removed to Khartoum
in early February.
"They took me into a small office and slapped me
around and kicked me, I denied I was Sudanese."
"Later I was blindfolded, and taken to another
location in car.Then I was in a room, and I was tied
to a chair. After they tied me up, they beat me."
He says The officers showed him some photographs taken
in London of Darfuri protestors.
"they said to me 'do you know the people in these
photos.' My photo was among those they were showing
me, except I looked different., I was wearing a hat
and had long hair at the time.He began calling out
names of people in the photos. I recognised one name."
I put Sadiq's claim to the ambassador…… > > Inigo… "It
would seem your embassy is closely monitoring Darfuris
living in this country?" > >
SOT…sudan Ambassador > (after Long pause)….No!" > >
Inigo: You are not monitoring them? > >
SOT......Ambassador…Absolutely not I have no idea of
what you are > talking about. Noone is monitoring
Darfuris and none took any pictures > around this
embassy…." > > But we have obtained this VIDEO clearly
showing people inside the embassy filming Darfuri
protestors and their supporters. > Ambassador: So what
is wrong if that happened…? >
Inigo: But I thought you said you were not monitoring
those taking > part… > SOT ambassador………. > > "Its
just to say that there is a demonstration around the >
embassy….It's not for individual incrimination,
definitely not…." >
INIGO UPSOT.....""they put the blindfold on you'
Sadiq says the worst of the torture came after he was
challenged about the photographs. he was moved to an
anonymous building somewhere on Khartoum's outskirts.
He thought the game was up.
SOT SADIQ "One of my torturers said 'just finish him
off', but another said no it's too early, someone
might hear the gunshots.'
The men then left the building and Sadiq, made his
move. Using a shovel to tear through the ropes binding
his hands, he SAYS managed to escape - running outside
and seeking help from a farmer nearby.
His new lawyers plan to use his claims of abuse -
along with the alleged mishandling of his asylum case
- to seek judicial review.
SADIQ...osMAN Upsot....".i dont have wife, dont have
anything..just alone..."
His case presents a moral challenge to Tony Blair's
vocal outrage over what is happening to Darfuris.
For sadiq words of support count for little now - he
cannot rest until he finds a country of refuge, of
safety, that he can call home...
Inigo Gilmore Channel 4 News....
COMMENTARY:
I'd come to a city hotel somewhere in East Africa -my
journey to this secret rendezvous had been relatively
easy But for Sudiq Adem Osman - the man I was meeting,
the road here had been long and traumatic.
Sot Sadiq Adem Osman
"These are the rope marks where I was tied…..here's a
big one....."
I'd been tipped off about his story by a humanitarian
group, the Aegis Trust in Britain, who helped him
escape from the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, where he
says he had been tortured by Sudanese security
services.
UPSOT "Here, and here, and here," ( Sadiq says as he
pointed to torture > > marks.) "There are too many of
them. Too many.."
SOT .......SADIQ ADAM OSMAN
"They came from all sides, there were three people
doing the torturing. One was doing the questioning,
another beating me, another behind me.
SOT.............."I was bleeding eerywhere, I was
soaked in blood. I expected to die. I never thought I
would be alive now."
UPSOT "Here, and here, and here," ( Sadiq says as he
pointed to torture > > marks.) "There are too many of
them. > Too > > many.." > >
Sadiq says he escaped within an inch of his life - and
while the scars where he was held down with metal
hooks are healing, clearly the mental scars will take
much longer.
So how did Mr Osman end up the clutches of the
Sudanese security SERVICES: answer he had been sent to
khartoum by the British government - another failed
asylum seeker.
Campaigners say his case could present the most
important challenge yet to the Home Office policy of
deporting Darfuris to Khartoum.
ARCHIVE DARFUR...
it was in 2004 that sadiq fled the violence in his
Darfur homeland. He says he was worried because his
brother was a rebel fighter and he feared for his own
life, having been previously detained and tortured. He
says he decided to flee after his mother and another
brother were killed when their village was attacked by
the janjaweed Arab milita and Sudan's air force.
THE UN says more than 200,000 people have been killed
and 2 million others have fled Sudan's western Darfur
province. Just this week Tony Blair called the
situation 'unacceptable' - reportedly floating the
idea of enforcing a no-fly zone. Encouraged by such
words of international support thousands of Darfuris -
like Sadiq - have headed for Europe, and the UK.
PICTURES OF PHOTOS OF SADIQ IN demo. In London UK
(SOUND....)
After his arrival in Britain in 2004 he sought asylum
and joined fellow darfuris in anti Khartoum
demonstrations in London. We obtained these photos
from a protest held just 15 months ago, showing a much
younger looking Sadiq.
his asylum application though was already in trouble -
the Home office view - that he should be sent back as
Khartoum was safe.
SOT INIGO GILMORE PTC
Sadiq's two year legal battle ended in failure in the
courts -- despite the existence of what seemed a
strong piece of evidence that he faced persecution if
returned home. -- This: apparently a warrant for his
arrest from a military court - unknown to him - and
presented to his family in 2004 - he was sent it at
the end of last year.
But the document was never translated for his asylum
application. We did translate it.
GFX - ANIMATION
It (apparently) set out reasons for the decision to
arrest him, including TITLE - The Republic of Sudan /
Department of General Security /North Darfur State
Date: 14/08/2004 Reference: 4/61
1/ You have been detained for treason against the
state national security in 1990 to 1991.
that he'd been detained for alleged "treason" in 1990,
and
2/ You have passed valuable information in favour of a
movement led by your brother MOHAMED ADAM OSMAN.
later provided information to his brother - a
commander in the Sudanese Liberation Army.
It warned that he faced prosecution if he failed to
turn himself in.
face prosecution in a military court under section 312
og the law of the state general security.
His new lawyer finds it astonishing that the Home
Office's failed to translate the document.
SYNC LAWYER
SOT Jovanka Savic
Sutovic & Hartigan Solicitors
"His case had gone through the whole legal system
since September 2004 on the basis that he was at risk
in Darfur and should not be sent back there but it was
safe for him back to Khartoum. This document was
material evidence that showed he was not safe in
Khartoum and it should have been translated by the
representatives and the home office. And it was not.
And the system failed him."
(PIX OF INIGO ARRIVING AT SUDANESE EMBASSY IN UK)
~Comm.
It's a system that operates in close cooperation with
the Sudanese embassy in London - Darfuri deportees are
routinely brought here for processing. So I went there
to talk about Sadiq's case with the ambassador. Even
he conceded an arrest warrant would have been taken
seriously by the Home Office. xxxxxxx
SOT
Omer Siddig
Sudan AMBASSADOR to the UK
Ø "had it been correct the Home Office here would >
not have let him be repatriated to the country…….
Ø > > (26.10) > > Inigo: ''You just said that if shows
that he was under threat from the Khartoum
government... > > > SOT Omer Saddig
SOT Sudanese AMBASSADOR to UK....
"That document is just a fake. that is why the Home
office, probably, did not pay any attention to it…."
But according to Sadi'q lawyers the documment is
authentic, as are his torture claims. I showed the
ambassador the video evidence I had of sadiq's
injuries.
SUDAN Ambassador SOT…."This is a claim he is making
from his side and I cannot > > confirm or deny that
this thing happened. Still the door is open > > before
him to > seek > > legal advice against whoever did
this… > > > >
Inigo Gilmore: "but you are not denying it happened…"
> > > >
Ambassador: "And I cannot confirm it too…." > > > >
Inigo: "So it is possible he was tortured?" > > > >
Ambassador…"As I say I cannot deny and I cannot
confirm.
If it is as > > he claimed, he can persue his claim
before the legal system in the > > country."…With
these scars he definitely has a good case….and he can
> > persue it through the legal > system… > > >
And he did concede though that Sudan's security
service had committed abuses. > (19.17)
SOT AMBASSADOR ........"Violence is committed in
Darfur and lots of cases > were given to the legal
system and those who committed such crimes > were
sentenced, including some army officers, security
officers."
Inigo Gilmore: So you are saying some abuses are
taking place at the hands of the security services?
Ambassador:
"In Darfur yes there are some violations. But things
like this to happen in Khartoum is very remote,
definitely…." But campaigners say that the risk of
torture in Khartoum is anything but remote and that
Darfuris detained in the UK a new round up in recent
days could face the same fate. John Bercow, a Tory MP,
raised the torture issue in the House of Commons this
week after seeing our evidence.…
SOT John Bercow Member of Parliament, Conservative
party international spokesman > > "We are sending
these asylum applicatns back into hands of a vile and
> murderous regime....It has been difficult to
document what happens > because those people we have
sent back have just disappeared... > That is why
Sadiq's case is so important…He has reemerged to show
just what > happens when darfuris are returned and so
his case is very > significant." >
We put Sadiq's detailed claims to the Home Office,
point by point - they replied with just a general
statement.
> > GRAPHIC>>>> > > HOME OFFICE STATEMENT > > In line
with current case law we continue to consider that it
is safe > to return to Sudan those Sudanese nationals
who have been found by > both the Home Office and the
independent appeals process not to be in > need of
international protection. > > ... We do not routinely
monitor > the treatment of individuals once removed
from the UK - we would not > remove them if we
considered that they were likely to suffer >
persecution on their return >
UPSOT Professor robbins….."Tell me what happened when
you arrived in Khartoum…"
At his secret hideout a leading clinical psychologist,
Professor Ian Robbins, has been brought to assess
Sadiq. Both he, and an independent medical examiner
have judged his mental and physical condition to be
consistent with undergoing torture - including
whipping with electrical flex - at the time Sadiq
claims it happened - following his removed to Khartoum
in early February.
"They took me into a small office and slapped me
around and kicked me, I denied I was Sudanese."
"Later I was blindfolded, and taken to another
location in car.Then I was in a room, and I was tied
to a chair. After they tied me up, they beat me."
He says The officers showed him some photographs taken
in London of Darfuri protestors.
"they said to me 'do you know the people in these
photos.' My photo was among those they were showing
me, except I looked different., I was wearing a hat
and had long hair at the time.He began calling out
names of people in the photos. I recognised one name."
I put Sadiq's claim to the ambassador…… > > Inigo… "It
would seem your embassy is closely monitoring Darfuris
living in this country?" > >
SOT…sudan Ambassador > (after Long pause)….No!" > >
Inigo: You are not monitoring them? > >
SOT......Ambassador…Absolutely not I have no idea of
what you are > talking about. Noone is monitoring
Darfuris and none took any pictures > around this
embassy…." > > But we have obtained this VIDEO clearly
showing people inside the embassy filming Darfuri
protestors and their supporters. > Ambassador: So what
is wrong if that happened…? >
Inigo: But I thought you said you were not monitoring
those taking > part… > SOT ambassador………. > > "Its
just to say that there is a demonstration around the >
embassy….It's not for individual incrimination,
definitely not…." >
INIGO UPSOT.....""they put the blindfold on you'
Sadiq says the worst of the torture came after he was
challenged about the photographs. he was moved to an
anonymous building somewhere on Khartoum's outskirts.
He thought the game was up.
SOT SADIQ "One of my torturers said 'just finish him
off', but another said no it's too early, someone
might hear the gunshots.'
The men then left the building and Sadiq, made his
move. Using a shovel to tear through the ropes binding
his hands, he SAYS managed to escape - running outside
and seeking help from a farmer nearby.
His new lawyers plan to use his claims of abuse -
along with the alleged mishandling of his asylum case
- to seek judicial review.
SADIQ...osMAN Upsot....".i dont have wife, dont have
anything..just alone..."
His case presents a moral challenge to Tony Blair's
vocal outrage over what is happening to Darfuris.
For sadiq words of support count for little now - he
cannot rest until he finds a country of refuge, of
safety, that he can call home...
Inigo Gilmore Channel 4 News....