Rudwan Dawod, a US-based human right activist, arrested in Sudan will stand trial in Khartoum. The Sudanese native who is originally from Darfur was arrested at a protest organized by nonviolent youth movement Girifna calling for the end of brutality waged by the Sudanese government.
Dawod faces terrorism and criminal organization charges with possible sentencing including the death penalty. He is also accused of espionage as a CIA spy and of converting to Christianity.
Dawood is a humanitarian and project leader in South Sudan for an NGO named Sudan Sunrise.
The trial comes at a time when the Bashir government is trying to clamp down on unrest in Sudan. Reports indicate that journalist and blogger Usamah Mohamad has been held without charge in a high security prison in Khartoum.
