MIT expresses 'deepest condolences' over student 'killed' in Sudan

MIT expresses 'deepest condolences' over student 'killed' in Sudan
Prestigious American university MIT expressed its 'deepest condolences' over the death of Mohamed Magdi Taha, who was reportedly killed after an altercation with security guards outside a Khartoum club early Friday morning
3 min read
13 August, 2022
The 24-year-old student was on holiday in Sudan when he was reportedly killed [Getty]

Prestigious American university MIT has said one of its students was killed in Sudan, reportedly after an altercation with security guards outside a club in Khartoum early Friday morning.

MIT shared with The New Arab a letter from university President L. Rafael Reif, released after Mohamed's passing.

"I write with great shock and sadness to let you know that Mohamed Magdi Taha, 24, a student in Course 6-9 (computation and cognition) was killed early yesterday morning in Sudan," the letter read.

"While at MIT, he formed close ties to Boston's Sudanese community, speaking at rallies for freedom, peace and justice at a time of political and social turmoil in Sudan." 

The letter described the late student as "easygoing, fun-loving and playful". 

"As we mourn the tragic loss of such a promising young person, we offer our deepest condolences to those who knew and loved Mohamed." 

Taha was on a short holiday in the northeast African country when he got into a dispute with security staff outside The Nile Club in Khartoum, according to posts on social media. 

It is not clear what caused the alleged altercation, or the sequence of events outside the club resulting in Mohamed's death. 

A post on Facebook said that after Mohamed was "beaten" by security, he tried to get away with friends in a car.

But the car was stopped, its windows shattered, and its passengers attacked, according to the post. This account has not been independently verified. 

A video accompanying a post about Mohamed's death on Twitter showed a group of men in civilian clothes surrounding a car.

A man can be seen lying on the floor just outside the vehicle as loud music plays in the background.

The video has not been independently verified. 

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Mohamed previously attended a vigil for the Sudanese diaspora and posted his support for anti-coup protests online. He was the son of the CEO of Sudan Telecoms Company SUDANI, according to accounts online. 

Sudan was thrown into political chaos after military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan seized power in a coup last year. 

Protesters have taken to the streets in nearly weekly demonstrations calling for a return to civilian rule. The military has responded with extreme acts of brutality and repression of people's freedom of movement and speech. 

More than a hundred people have been killed in violence between demonstrators and Sudanese security forces.