Newspapers confiscated or closed, journalists on trial: Update on Sudan’s press freedom

Second hearing for 7 alleged Radio Dabanga collaborators

A new hearing in the case of the 7 Darfuris accused of collaboration with Radio Dabanga took place in Khartoum yesterday. According to the defense, they established during the cross-examination that the complainant, Mohammed Hassan Osman, had no tangible evidence against the accused.

A legal source who spoke to Radio Dabanga stated that Mr. Osman, who works for the Security Services, attempted to monitor the defendants’ activities illegally, and that his doings were against the Constitution as he had no legal justification for his actions. The plaintiff’s accusations were furthermore defined as racist against the people of Darfur, as well as an attempt to restrain press freedom in the country.

The next hearing will take place on the 3^rd of August to hear the prosecution witnesses. The defence is headed by Mr. Mustafa Abdel Gadir. The defendants that appeared on trail are Abdelrahman Adam Abdelrahman, Abdelrahman al Gasim, the journalists of Al Sahafa Newspaper Jaafar Al Sabki, Adam al Nur Adam, Zacharia Yagoub, Khalid Ishaq and Kawther Abdel Haq.

Abdul Rahman Adam Abdul Rahman is one of the defendants accused of collaboration with Radio Dabanga.

The defendants had spent 7 months in Kober Prison before their first trial on July 11, where they denied the totality of the charges made against them. Radio Dabanga is accused of negatively influencing the image of Sudan on both international and local levels due to its reports of killings, rapes and the situation of the displaced and refugees. Further charges amongst others include threatening the national peace, disturbing the constitutional order and spying against the Government.

Newspaper Bells of Freedom loses publication rights

The Khartoum Press and Publications Council issued a decision yesterday to definitively cancel the publication of the Bells of Freedom after already 3 weeks of suspension. This newspaper, which is considered as lined to the opposition and pro-SPLM, is among the 6 newspapers whose licenses were taken following the secession of South Sudan. The pretext for the withdrawal was that after the creation of the new state, several owners of the newspaper became foreigners, a situation prohibited by the press laws. 

Security services confiscate Al-Watan prints

Similarly, the Security Services confiscated freshly printed editions of the Al-Watan daily newspaper yesterday in order to weaken its editors and stop its publication. The Sudanese Journalists Network (SJN) condemned this initiative in a statement, describing these actions as a violation of press freedom, the Interim Constitution and international conventions ratified by Sudan. The SJN already denounced the Government’s actions for the arrest of several journalists, notably for reporting on the alleged rape of a Sudanese activist by 3 members of the Security Forces.

Journalist Amal Habani is currently facing one month of imprisonment for her reports on Darfuri female activist Safiya Ishaq’s alleged rape by three members of the Sudanese Security Forces

Worrying trend in Press Freedom rights in Sudan

The Sudanese Journalists Network already expressed its concerns about the use of the law by the security apparatus to restrain the freedom of expression and the work of journalists, intimidating them whether they report on Human Rights violations, or express their views on topics of general concern for the Sudanese society.