Sudanese journalists condemn closing down of newspaper

El Rai al Shab newspaper affiliated with Al Turabi’s Popular Congress Party was shut down this afternoon.Sources said that early this morning, security authorities confiscated newspapers at the printers as the number of copies reached 15,000. Usually the paper prints around 23,000 copies daily. A source said that this tactic is used by authorities to inflict financial damage.The newspaper contained an article with the Justice and Equality Movement’s (JEM) spokesman Gibril Adam Bilal speaking about the difference between the treatment of prisoners of war by JEM and the government.This afternoon the authorities closed down the office of the newspaper and confiscated all equipment without any explanation.The Sudanese Network of Journalists said in a statement they strongly condemn the closing downof the paper and said that if the authorities disagree with points made in an article they should take their grievances to court rather than violate freedom of expression.They said this action is against the Sudanese constitution and international agreements that are ratified by Sudan.