Sudanese editor released after interrogation

(Update 10:50pm) The editor-in-chief of El Saiha daily newspaper, Yasir Mahjoub, has been released after hours of interrogation on Wednesday evening. He was questioned by a special prosecutor investigating media violations. He was detained by plain-clothes officers of the National Security Service and accused of publishing documents about corruption involving the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice, Osam El Din Abdelgadir. The security officers entered the building at 6pm and started to thoroughly search the offices of the editor. They took some papers related to corruption within the government. The newspaper, which only recently appeared on news stands, published articles about the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice, who owns an unknown number of plots and houses in Khartoum, which he reportedly obtained during his time as Director of the Khartoum Cadastre for Land Use. The Undersecretary denied any wrongdoing. He confirmed recently that he indeed owned the buildings, but he denied having abused his position as director of the Cadastre. Immediately after his statement, the prosecutor approached the media telling them they should not publish any more articles about corruption before delivering the evidence to the prosecutor’s office. At the same time, a case was opened against El Saiha newspaper. The head of security Mohamed Atta ordered the closure of the newspaper indefinitely. The head of the security prosecution office, Yasir Ahmed Mohamed, released a statement that the editor-in-chief of El Saiha newspaper has been released after interrogation. The official state press agency, SUNA announced that during the investigations at the El Saiha offices ‘many documents’ were found in breach of Article 55 of Sudanese Criminal Law, that prohibits the distribution of government documents outside official government venues. According to the agency, the newspaper has disclosed official information from the government, which is against the law. The Minsiter of Information has threateend all newspapers not to publish articles about corruption, calling it a ‘red line’ that can not be passed. There is a growing publicity about corruption cases within the inner circle of the President’s office. El Saiha is owned by El Tayeb Mustafa, the chairman of the Just Peace Forum-party. He is president Omar Al Bashir’s maternal uncle. He previously owned El Intibaha newspaper, but he was forced to leave that paper by order of the National Security Service. File photo: Sudanese journalists protest against the targeting of press freedom. The banners say: “Free the detained journalists”, and “Freedom of expression is a right, not a gift” Related: EU call on Sudan to lift press curbs (28 May 2014)Sudanese General warns of ‘decisive battle’ with media (28 May 2014)Press ‘warned’ in Sudan (21 May 2014)