Stepping up of media censorship and harassment and detention of journalists

SOAT
Sudan Organisation Against Torture





SOAT Press Release: 20 September 2004

Stepping up of media censorship and harassment and detention of journalists



The National Security Forces (NSA) has stepped up its campaign of attacking and restricting the media and freedom of _expression in Sudan. This is in contradiction to the presidential decree on press freedom, issued on 12 August 2003, which ‘officially’ lifted the censorship on newspapers operating under the jurisdiction of the NSA.



As of 11 September 2004, “Pre-censorship” has been imposed by the NSA. Chief Editors of all Sudanese news papers have been instructed not to report any news concerning the situation in Darfur or the National Popular Congress (PNC), headed by Hassan Al Turabi, with the exception of information released by the government.

From 12 September 2004, the NSA resumed their pre-censorship policy by going to printers and reviewing and ordering the removal of articles prior to the printing of newspapers.



Also, there has been resumption in the targeting of journalists through detention or summons. The details are as follows:



Hussein Khogali: Chief Editor and owner of the daily Arabic Alalwan, was arrested on 12 September 2004. He was taken to Kober prison where he remains in detention, and no official charges have been filled against him. He is accused of supporting the PNC.



Osman Mirgani: columnist for the Arabic daily Alray al-aam, was summoned on 12 September 2004. He was detained for several hours and was ordered not to write or comment on any issues concerning the PNC or its leaders. He was warned by the security services, that he should take these instructions seriously. His column, Hadeeth Almadina, dated 12 September 2004, was removed prior to printing by the security officers, for writing about the PNC.



Faisal Mohamed Salih, a prominent journalist and the new Chief Editor of the Arabic daily, Aladdwaa, was ordered to report to the security forces office at midday on 13 September 2004 and was detained for four hours. He was warned not to publish or report any news, articles or comments on the PNC. His paper, Aladdwaa, has been targeted on several occasions by the NSA in the first week of the activation of the censorship policy.



Abubakar Alamin writer of the daily column, Sakanab, in the Aladdwaa newspaper, was not present on the 13 September 2004, due to the security censorship.



Faisal Elbagir, a prominent Human rights defender, member of Sudan Organisation Against Torture (SOAT) network in Sudan, and RSF Sudan correspondent, was summoned by the security forces on 16 September 2004 and detained for 9 hours at the NSA offices. Faisal was released and ordered to report to the security offices on Saturday, 18 September 2004, at exactly, 9:45 a.m. Fisal's weekly column, Agras almarasid, in Aladdwaa newspaper was removed prior to the printing of the Thursday's edition (16 September 2004). The column criticised the security services actions of targeting, arresting and detaining journalists, and the 1999 National Security Act.



Background



Despite censorship being officially abolished in December 2001, the GoS continues to be repressive in clamping down on the freedom of the press particularly as the situation in Darfur deteriorates. SOAT believes this “Pre-censorship” order imposed by the NSA will severely limit the ability of the Sudanese Press to present information on the Darfur crisis because of the fear of harassment, arrest, detention of journalists, confiscation and fines, confiscation and arbitrary suspension of newspapers. Furthermore, that this is an attempt by the GoS to halt the dissemination of information about Darfur to the wider public in Sudan. The right to freedom of _expression and the right to seek, receive and impart information of all kinds are laid down in international covenants.



SOAT urges Sudan to respect its obligations as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which under Article 19 states “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of _expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.” In addition, Sudan is a state party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights which under article 1 asserts that the right to freedom of _expression "is a fundamental and inalienable human right and an indispensable component of democracy." Furthermore article 11 provides that attacks such as "the murder, kidnapping, intimidation of and threats to media practitioners and others exercising their right to freedom of _expression, as well as the material destruction of communications facilities, undermines independent journalism, freedom of _expression and the free flow of information to the public."



SOAT condemns the arbitrary arrests, harassments, detention of journalists and the continuing restrictions on freedom of _expression in Sudan and urges the Government to:



i) Immediately stop the harassments, summoning and arbitrary arrests of journalists.



ii) Immediately release Hussein Khogali in the absence of valid legal charges, or if legitimate charges exist, bring them before an impartial tribunal and guarantee procedural rights at all times.



iii) Cease the suspensions and imposition of pre-printing and post-printing censorship on newspapers, and allow full freedom of _expression in accordance with international human rights standards.



ii) Allow proper research, discussion and dissemination of information on issues related to press freedom



iii) Guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout Sudan in accordance with national laws and international human rights 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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