SJN calls on journalists to unite against ‘atmosphere of war’

On World Press Freedom day the Sudanese Journalists Network described the state of the media in Sudan as corrupted. In a statement the independent body said the ‘situation for reporters is one of brutal systematic repression and intimidation, violating freedom of expression’. The Network condemned new methods used by intelligence and security authorities to control the press, including barring individual journalists, threatening them over the phone and repeatedly calling them in to security offices. It said the constant pressure has led to a fatigue amongst journalists and editors. The statement called on all ‘Sudanese journalists to unite behind freedom of speech and expression and to respond strongly to the systematic onslaught of the security service backed by the state’ and not allow an ‘atmosphere of war to marginalise freedom and replace a free press with religious hate speech’.