A court in Port Sudan has postponed the trial of volunteer activist Barir Al-Tom, who worked in displacement shelters, from the session that was scheduled for Wednesday to 10 August 2026, pending the completion of legal proceedings.
Al-Tom, who is widely known for providing humanitarian assistance and supporting internally displaced people during the war, was arrested by security authorities in Port Sudan in August 2025.
The first hearing was held on 1 July 2026, during which the court heard testimony from the investigating officer and the complainant. The prosecution also submitted documentary evidence, with the remaining procedures to continue in upcoming hearings.
Al-Tom is facing charges under Articles 26 and 51 of the Sudanese Criminal Code, Articles 14 and 16 of the Cybercrime Act, and Article 3 of the 2024 Emergency Order. Some of these charges carry penalties that may include the death sentence.
Lawyer Othman Gamal El-Din told Mashaweer that the case concerns allegations that fall within the court’s jurisdiction to determine, stressing that the defendant continues to enjoy the presumption of innocence until a final judicial verdict is issued.
He added that postponing the hearing until 10 August keeps the case in the procedural stage before the Port Sudan Court, pending completion of the trial and a final judgment based on the outcome of the legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, volunteer activist Issa Mahmoud in Port Sudan told Mashaweer that defending Barir Al-Tom’s case is, above all, a defense of the fundamental right to a fair trial conducted in accordance with due legal process and within a reasonable period of time.
He noted that prolonged delays in resolving cases may adversely affect the rights of litigants, regardless of whether the outcome is a conviction or an acquittal, emphasizing that this principle should be applied equally to all cases without exception.
