Sudanese journalist’s family appeals to Parliament for his release

SudaneseOnline-The journalist's family al-Nour Ahmed al-Nour has complained to the National Assembly at his arrest by National Intelligence and Security Forces (NISS) on Thursday.
The parliamentary sub-committee on information, Afaf Tawur, told Al-Rai Al-A’am newspaper on Monday that journalist's wife and children explained to her sub-committee verbally the journalist’s case and told her that (NISS) refused to let them meet his, adding that her sub-committee has asked the family to file an official complaint to investigate the case, pointing out that the journalist’s family is concerned and does not know his place.
“We want to know at least where he is to move and reassure his family”. She indicated that the family has a permission from prosecutors to meet him, stressing that his family and lawyer have the right to know his place, refusing the secret detention.
“There is no reason to be hidden even if there is a political or criminal case filed against him. I call on the concerned authorities to follow peaceful means to deal with the journalist in any case “Tawur said.
In the same context, dozens of journalists protested on Monday in front of the National Council for Press and Publications’ (NCPP) headquarters in Khartoum in solidarity with the journalist
The journalists held banners calling for a free press, while other banners held by the journalists’ family and his neighbors demanded the president Al-Bashir to order al-Nour’s immediate release.
Secretary General of the National Council for Press and Publications’ (NCPP) l, Ali Mohamed Shomo, vowed to contact the NISS to release al-Nour, underscoring the issue must be dealt with as publication case.
Al-Nour is the correspondent for the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper in Khartoum and a columnist at Al-Taqyeer newspaper.
The NISS alleges that al-Nour is responsible for publishing a false report, saying that president Omer Hassan al-Bashir issued a decision to merge electricity companies following reports on their poor performance.