The Port Sudan Court has set September 6 as the date for the next hearing in the trial of volunteer activist at shelters, Brer Al-Tom, to complete the hearing of prosecution witnesses. The court heard one witness today, while the other witness was absent.
The upcoming hearing comes as Al-Tom’s detention approaches a full year, amid human rights concerns that the prolonged detention and repeated postponements could further extend the case, despite the absence of a final judicial ruling against him.
The previous hearing was postponed due to circumstances related to the court. Proceedings resumed today with the testimony of one prosecution witness, with the court scheduled to hear the final witness on September 6.
Security authorities in Port Sudan arrested Brer Al-Tom in August 2025. He is known for his work providing humanitarian assistance and supporting displaced people during the war.
According to the charges, Al-Tom is being prosecuted under Articles 26 and 51 of the Criminal Act, Articles 14 and 16 of the Cybercrimes Act, and Article 3 of the 2024 Emergency Order. Some of these provisions carry penalties of up to the death penalty.
Lawyer Othman Jamal Al-Din told Mashaweer that “the filing of charges does not mean that a crime has been proven,” stressing that “Brer remains presumed innocent until a final judicial verdict is issued, and he is entitled to full fair-trial guarantees, including the right to a defense and to have his case heard within a reasonable period.”
Jamal Al-Din added that the human rights concern is not about seeking a predetermined verdict or interfering with the court’s work, but rather about the possibility that the prolonged detention and repeated postponements could become an additional burden on an accused person against whom no final judgment has been issued.
He noted that, after nearly a year in detention, the completion of the prosecution’s witness testimonies should pave the way for the case to move to its next stages without undue delay, leading to its resolution in accordance with the law.
