14/08/2014
Dear Isa,
I am James(?). We met in Candaca in April 2013. I came to see you with Abrahim and we went to see his late mother's house in Jaraada. We also had a trip to see the water in the desert.
I was devastated to read on Lonely Planet what had happened to you and to read the personal letter that you posted up. All the time that I was in Dongola and the area, I heard nothing negative said about you and your family. People were maybe a bit bemused as to why you would choose to live in Dongola but they were O.K. about it.
I always think that, in situations like this, somebody is anxious to show to the rest how "right on" and zealous he is and throwing out the foreigners is one way of doing this. It is also interesting that in the recent case of the "apostasy" woman, she was re-arrested once she had been released. My understanding is that the second arrest was by the security people who felt that their authority had been slighted when the first arrest took place without them. Maybe this is what happened to you.
The irony of all this, and this has no doubt not been lost on you, is that the foreigners will continue to come as the road makes it possible to do so. They will all stay in the same place as well, probably the Ulla, and so the "problem" has not been solved by closing you down.
I really hope that you and the family have come out of this OK. You were so nice to me during out brief meetings.
I wish you well.