Post: #1
Title: Sudan’s Ministry of Culture orders the closure of the Sudanese Writer’s Union
Author: african centre for justice
Date: 02-03-2015, 08:10 PM
Parent: #0
13:10 PM Feb 3,2015
Sudanese Online
african centre for justice
(3 February 2015) On 29 January 2015 the Registrar of Cultural Groups within the Sudanese Ministry of Culture cancelled the registration of the Sudanese Writers Union (SWU). The cancellation order, no. 1/2015, signed by the Registrar of Cultural Groups, Ms. Egbal Alhassan Mahjoub, provided brief notification of the cancellation in a couple of sentences without citing reasons or relevant legislation.
The SWU was originally founded in 1985 in Khartoum. It was forced to close in 1989 following the military coup led by President Omar Hassan al Bashir, and was not allowed to re-open until 2006, one year after the signature of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The SWU describes its mandate as working through culture to promote dialogue and seek solutions to conflicts, with an emphasis on the freedom of expression and diversity. It convenes meetings of writers and its members publish in print and online media.
The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) has long-standing concerns that Sudanese authorities, including the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) and regulatory bodies governing the work of organisations and associations, such as the Ministry of Culture and the Humanitarian Affairs Commission (HAC), have sought to impose severe restrictions on the operation and mandates of independent civil society organisations.
ACJPS calls on the Government of Sudan (GoS) to immediately allow the SWU to re-open and continue its peaceful work in support of civil society initiatives to promote democracy and cultural diversity in Sudan, and to respect the right of Sudanese people to fully exercise their rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression, as recognised in the Interim National Constitution of 2005.
Background
The closure comes amidst increasing restrictions on freedom of expression, association and assembly in Sudan and the routine obstruction of the work of independent civil society organisations. Severe formal and informal restrictions have also been placed on political opposition parties and their members, including the application of broad and vaguely worded offenses to censor perceived critics of the ruling party.
At 11am on 18 January, the NISS of Omdurman, Khartoum state, raided the Mahmoud Mohamed Taha Centre whilst a ceremony commemorating the life of Mahmoud Mohamed Taha was taking place. 18 January 2015 marked the thirty year anniversary of the execution of Mahmoud Mohamed Taha, founder of the Republican Party in Sudan. The Republican Party proclaims to oppose Islamic fundamentalism and promote secularism. Taha was executed days after being convicted of apostasy in 1985 on the basis of his opposition to Sudan’s interpretation of Sharia law. On 21 January 2015 the Centre received letter no. 1/2015 from the Ministry of Culture, cancelling its registration.
On 21 December 2014 seven members of the NISS raided the offices of the Sudanese Human Rights Monitor (SHRM) in Khartoum, a human rights organisation founded by Dr Amin Mekki Medani. A workshop on the Universal Periodic Review of Sudan taking place on the premises was stopped and participants were required to leave. One participant, Mr. Mohamed Al Fateh Hima, was arrested by the NISS and released later the same day without charge. Mr. Hima is a journalist at Al Midan newspaper and a member of the secretariat of the independent Sudanese Journalist Network. A number of laptops and documents were confiscated. The SHRM did not receive any formal communication from the HAC, under which it is registered, concerning the raid.
Other cultural groups and forums have been forced to close in the past years by the Ministry of Culture, including the Sudanese Studies Centre, a group working to promote dialogue on culture and democracy, in late 2012. On 11 February 2014, the NISS of Al-Gadarif State, eastern Sudan raided the premises of Al-Shrooq Cultural Forum in Al-Gadarif town, obstructing a planned discussion that day on a recently published book entitled ‘Development and Sustainable Peace in Eastern Sudan’. On 24 June 2014 the Ministry of Justice cancelled the registration of the Salmmah Women’s Resource Centre in Khartoum. Officials reportedly ordered staff of the organisation to leave their offices, seized company documents and assets, and closed the organisation.
Contact: Mohamed Badawi, Human Rights Monitoring Programme Coordinator, on mailto:[email protected]@acjps.org or +256 788695068
(17) Sudanese opposition parties withdraw from the national dialogue 01-21-15, 05:25 PM, SudaneseOnline NewsSudan expects a new representative for UNDP resident coordinator in the coming days 01-21-15, 04:20 PM, SudaneseOnline NewsSudan’s opposition require clear objectives to participate in the national dialogue 12-02-14, 01:36 PM, SudaneseOnline NewsSudan’s Al-Bashir to meet the Communal Dialogue Committee tomorrow 11-30-14, 03:09 PM, SudaneseOnline NewsSudan’s national dialogue delegation travels to Addis to meet armed movements 11-29-14, 02:51 PM, SudaneseOnline NewsStatement No. (16) from Commander / Ismail Khamis Jalab The former Governor of South Kordufan / Nub 11-15-14, 10:37 PM, اللواء اسماعيل خميس جلابAn important Statement No.14 by Commander Ismail Khamis Jalab The former governor of South Kordofan 10-31-14, 03:37 PM, SudaneseOnline Press ReleaseNo pressure behind the nomination of Al-Bashir: Sudan’s leading figure 10-24-14, 03:12 PM, SudaneseOnline NewsSudan’s ruling party nominates Al-Bashir and 4 other for the presidential elections 10-21-14, 03:33 PM, SudaneseOnline NewsS. Sudan President Seeks Meeting with Sudan’s Leader 09-15-14, 05:07 PM, Voice of America3rd anniversary of the war against the people of the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile states 06-05-14, 05:36 AM, الØركه الشعبيه لتØرير السودان شمالSudan woman faces death penalty for apostasy 05-14-14, 02:32 PM, Aljazeera newsAn Urgent Mother's Day Appeal for Action from Sudan: Mary and Her Unborn Child Sentenced to Floggi 05-14-14, 04:37 AM, اخبار سودانيزاونلاينSouth Sudan Urges Sudan to Stop Attacks By Armed Groups 04-21-14, 03:14 PM, Voice of AmericaJordan, Sudan sign 19 agreements to boost cooperation in various fields 04-02-14, 03:31 PM, Jordan News Agency (PETRA)Sudan police tear-gas opposition protest 03-16-14, 06:43 PM, Al Arabiya NewsSudan rebel leaders sentenced to death 03-15-14, 08:23 PM, Aljazeera newsSudan police clash with mourners at funeral 03-13-14, 01:48 AM, Aljazeera newsPresident of the Assembly calls upon the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to resp 02-26-14, 05:45 PM, SudaneseOnline NewsThe trial of two Sudanese activists, Najlaa Mohammed Ali and Amin Sena 11-21-13, 02:06 PM, SudaneseOnline News Chad starts military campaign against rebels in Darfur 11-17-13, 03:44 AM, Reuters SUDANESE WOMAN STILL AT RISK OF FLOGGING 09-20-13, 05:21 PM, SudaneseOnline News UN: Demand al-Bashir’s surrender to the International Criminal Court 09-20-13, 04:14 PM, SudaneseOnline News WOMAN LEAVES HAIR UNCOVERED, RISKS FLOGGING 09-18-13, 07:53 PM, SudaneseOnline News Al Bashir case: ICC Judges invite the US to arrest the suspect and sur 09-18-13, 07:07 PM, SudaneseOnline News Bashir, Kiir Pledge to Open New Page in Sudan Ties 09-03-13, 06:34 PM, Voice of America South Sudan President to Visit Khartoum Tuesday 09-02-13, 04:13 PM, SudaneseOnline News South Sudan's Kiir to visit Sudan ahead of oil stoppage deadline 09-02-13, 04:02 PM, SudaneseOnline News
|
|