UPDATED: Sami al-Baqir released from custody on 25 September – thanks to everyone who supported this campaign. We will provide more information as we receive it about any charges he is facing.

The Sudanese Teachers Committee (STC) announced on Facebook on 22 September that the Sudanese military authorities have arrested the STC spokesperson, Sami al-Baqir. MENA Solidarity urges trade unionists to join hundreds of trade unionists who have signed the emergency solidarity statement below and to contact the Sudanese embassy in your country (use this form to reach the Sudanese embassy in London) to demand an end to the arrests and harassment of STC members and other Sudanese activists who have been speaking up the military and militia generals whose brutal war is destroying the country. 

The arrest of Sami al-Baqir makes the Sudan Solidarity Conference, an anti-war and anti-racist event co-organised by Sudanese and British trade unions all the more important. Find out more and book a ticket to attend here

Sign this statement: Stop the arrests of Sudanese teachers – Solidarity with Sami al-Baqir

We are deeply concerned by the report that Sami al-Baqir, spokesperson for the Sudanese Teachers’ Committee (STC) was arrested by Military Intelligence in Port Sudan on Friday 22 September. As the union’s media officer, Mr al-Baqir has been at the forefront of defending Sudanese teachers’ rights to strike and organise in a context where war between Sudan’s rival military and militia factions has devastated the country. Sudanese teachers have not been paid for months and recently took to the streets across Sudan in protest. The national teachers’ strike in 2022 saw tens of thousands of STC members take action over collapsing living standards and the deterioration of the public education system. 

The arrest of Mr al-Baqir comes at a time when the military authorities in Port Sudan and other cities have been arresting anti-war activists, including doctors, engineers and teachers, while harassment of government critics is increasing. We demand that the Sudanese military and militia factions stop the arrests and harassment of trade unionists and critics of the authorities and urge trade unionists around the world to show their solidarity with Mr al-Baqir, the STC and other Sudanese activists. 

Sign the petition via the online form here

Signatories include: John McDonnell, MP; Liz Wheatley, UNISON National Executive member; Mark Abel, UCU NEC and Branch Chair Brighton UCU; Louise Regan, NEU National Executive member; Donny Gluckstein, EIS National Executive member; Jordan Rivera, UNISON branch secretary; Keith Crane, PCS Vice-Chair Defra London; Eleanor Clarke, PCS Rep, PSG Executive L&SE Executive; Ken Muller, Islington NEU Press Officer; Mike Govender, NEU School Rep; Stephanie Zupan NEU member; Anna Gluckstein, NEU rep; Tara Kym Tod, NEU Rep; Phillip Allsopp, Anti-casualisation Officer, Cardiff UCU; Jacinta Phillips, Unite / GMB member; Eleanor Davies, NEU District Secretary; Dave Gay NEU and secretary, Southwark Trades Council; Kevin Biderman, Brighton UCU; Sarah Ensor, PCS; Neil McAlister Chair Greater Manchester Mental Health UNISON Branch UK; Dr. Stephen Oren USA; Howie Hawkins, Teamsters Local 317, Syracuse, New York, USA and over 100 others (names will be updated periodically).

Alphabetical list of signatories