(a year before the revolution)-On 17 January 2018, a peaceful procession called for by the Sudanese Communist Party protesting the spike of prices and the government's failing economic measures, was dispersed violently by the Security and Intelligence officers and over 80 people from various political and non political backgrounds were arrested, after 3 months of detention in the Security prison cells, Omer Ushari was released and he immediately started posting his testimonies on Facebook. I translate this testimonial with his permission.
(1)
"Imaaaaaaaamuk!"
I'm your Imam!(I am your religious leader)
We all stood with our backs to the walls of a narrow corridor, amidst the hustle and bustle of the security services officers, some were in uniforms, some in casual clothing, waving green and black plastic hoses which haven't been used on our backs that day, two of the officers were armed. We were brought in groups by pick-up trucks to this place.
I was standing close to Yousif al Koda* , who was a target to the humoring of a young security officer " say! Koda! it's you again! haven't you repented?"
Koda fired back in a stern and irate tone: "re-pen-ted?! repented?! you?! talking to "ME" about repenting? have I stolen? have I committed adultery?
I glanced at the face of the young officer to see his reaction to one prisoner's insolence, but instead I read in his face an expression that read "what got me into this mess?" he replied to Koda's protest by "ok! Ok! just sit down, sit down!"
Koda emboldened, replied in defiance "I will NOT sit down! I will NOT sit down! you?! asking me to repent?! Well I never! Well I never ever! an officer like you telling ME to repent?!"
We all glanced at the officer whose face was showing signs of irritation, he muttered in a whisper-revealing a glimpse of the realities of this place-"and just who are you?"
Koda's ear caught the whisper and encouraged by his own brave defiance thundered : "WHO AM I?!! WHO AM I?? I am Imaaaaaaaam'uk!
That is how he said (Imamuk) stressing the vowels in the word, extending the aaaa and enunciating the "u" in a manner that is common with "those" people who have the world all muddled up in their heads.
We were all disappointed by his reply after this admirable show of bravado.
Even the officer was comforted by this , as if to say "had you replied with anything else I would have smacked your head, but in respect to this "imaginary" spiritual bond between us I will let you be"
unbelievable non sensical farce!
Had the Wednesday procession ushered its leaders to a popular revolution, would Koda be one of the leaders of change with this mind set?
At that moment I felt that this officer -even with his oppressive behavior-was closer to any change movement than the religious pretenses of Koda.
For at least you could dispel this officer's authoritarianism by transferring him to a different department like the Traffic authority or Patrolling, but what could we do with the lump of complexities resting in Koda's head?
I was then ordered to squat and face the wall at 3 am after a long day that started in down town Khartoum.
And my imagination stirred as I reminisced ...
where was the starting point of the procession? where was it dispersed? how was I arrested?
and what emotions took over and threw me into the turbulent waves of this protest?
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*Yousif Koda is a Sudanese controversial religious scholar, Leader of (Al-Wasat Party) , has recently been known for his open criticism of the government which has led him to be arrested several times, he is an active figure on Facebook through his page and his posts swing between conservatism and some shades of liberalism
