السودانية لمناهضة التعذيب تدين حظر موقع سودانيزأونلاين

SOAT
Sudan Organisation Against Torture


SOAT Press Release: 9 July 2004

Website blocked from access in Sudan

As of 12:30 pm on Wednesday, 7 July 2004, the internet site, Sudanese Online has been blocked from viewing. The order to block the website came from the National Security Agency (NSA), and was carried out by the National Telecommunications Corporations (NTC), the major internet service provider in Sudan. Allegedly, the order was due to continued publication of news, reports and discussions by the website that were deemed a national security threat.

Background

Sudanese online started in January, 2000 by a Sudanese-American national, Abd Al Rahman Abubakr. Abd Al Rahman has reported multiple attempts to hack into the website, in the aim of destroying or at least disrupting the website.



SOAT condemns the blocking of the website by the National Communications Centre and continuing restrictions on freedom of expression, and urges the Government of Sudan:

1. Immediately lift the blocking of the Sudanese Online website

2. End restrictions on freedom of the press, and allow full and open reporting of, and comment upon the current state of affairs in Sudan.

3. Guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights laws and standards.

The above recommendations should be sent in appeals to the following addresses:

His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir
President of the Republic of Sudan
President' s Palace
PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 783223

Mr. Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Ministry of Justice
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 788941

Mr. Mustafa Osman Ismail
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 779383

Dr. Abdelmuneim Osman Mohamed Taha
Advisory Council for Human Rights
PO Box 302
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 770883

His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Mohamed Al- Hassan Ahmed Al-Haj,
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva,
PO Box 335,
1211 Geneva,
Switzerland,
Fax: +4122 731 26 56,
E-mail: [email protected].

SOAT is international human rights organisation established in the UK in 1993. If you have any questions about this or any other SOAT information, please contact us:

SOAT
Argo House
Kilburn Park Road
London NW6 5LF, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7625 8055
Fax: +44 (0)20 7372 2656
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.soatsudan.org

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