Sudanese journalist fined after reporting on trial

00:26 AM July, 11 2017

Sudanese Online
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New York, July 10, 2017--Sudanese authorities should drop all charges against Al-Taghyeer columnist Amal Habbani, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

A court in the capital Khartoum today sentenced Habbani, a columnist for the news website, to pay a fine of 10,000 Sudanese pounds (roughly U.S. $1430) or to serve four months in prison on the charge of "obstructing a police officer from doing his job," according to news reports. Habbani told Agence France Press that the sentence was "unfair," and that she would appeal. She said she would not pay the fine, even if that meant going to prison.

The charges stem from a November 10, 2016, incident when National Security Forces detained Habbani, independent journalist Reem Abbas, and activist Mohamed Orwa for two hours as they attempted to cover the trial of a human rights organization accused of "publishing false reports" and espionage, according to news reports. A NSF officer confiscated Habbani's phone, which he said she was using to take photos during the court session, and slapped her when she protested her detention, according to news reports. Habbani, Abbas, and Orwa denied taking pictures in the courtroom, the reports said.