The National Security Agency (NSA) confiscated the sports newspaper Al-mushahid

SOAT - Sudan Organisation Against Torture

Human Rights Alert: 24 January 2005

On 18 January 2005, the National Security Agency (NSA) confiscated all copies of the sports
newspaper Al-mushahid after waiting for the 18 January 2005 edition of the paper to be printed and ready for distribution.

"The aim of such confiscation is to force the paper to practice self censorship, to avoid such confiscations, which aims at the end of the day, economical and financial losses, if the paper
continue, publishing articles or thoughts, which are not liked by the
security" said the chief editor of Al-mushahid, Abdelmoniem Shagarabi.

The newspaper was confiscated following the publication of a poem by the poet Hashim Siddig on 17
January 2005. The poem criticised the government policy, 'Alsalih al-aam'. The policy ensures the
dismissals of civil servants who do not support the policies and ideology of the ruling party, the National Congress.

SOAT condemns the confiscation of Al-mushahid newspaper and the continuing restrictions on freedom of _expression, and urges the Government of Sudan to:

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

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.

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].


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