Sudan silences Islamist media platform

The Minister of Culture and Information of Sudan has issued a decision to stop El Andalus Media Production and Distribution Company, that owns several satellite channels, from broadcasting.

In a press conference on Monday, Minister Feisal Mohamed Saleh explained that the decision was based on the exclusive right of the Sudanese General Authority for Radio and TV Broadcasting and its responsibility to control or supervise the operation of radio and television broadcasting platforms.

The El Andalus Media Production and Distribution Ltd owns the Teiba satellite channels, whose board of directors is chaired by Islamist preacher Abdelhay Yousef, for whom an arrest warrant was issued last week. El Andalus permits broadcasting for more than ten channels not authorised by the Sudanese authorities.

The minister further clarified that the decision was based on a previous directive issued by the Radio and Television Broadcasting Authority that aimed to adjust the operation of the El Andalus platform. The directive concluded that the company should assign the ownership of the platform to the Sudanese General Cooperation for Radio and TV Broadcasting with compensation, as well as transfer the platform from its current location to the broadcasting corporation.

Therefore, the El Andalus Company either accepts the decision and operates under the authority of the Sudanese General Cooperation for Radio and TV Broadcasting or must operate outside Sudan.

Last week, Radio Dabanga reported that an arrest warrant was issued for the Abdelhay Yousef, Imam of El Mursalin Mosque in Jabra, based on a complaint against him filed by Sudan’s Minister of Youth and Sports concerning defamation of character and abuse. The arrest could not be implemented because the preacher is currently outside the country.

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