World

Sudanese Journalists Arrested at Censorship Rally

by Pythiian1 | November 19, 2008 at 06:00 pm

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Police in Sudan arrested more than 60 journalists during a protest against media censorship, report by the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and news sources. According to the BBC, riot police armed with canes and shields had rounded up the journalists outside parliament on Nov. 17.

The journalists have been released as of this writing.

The daily newspaper Ajras al-Hurriya and other papers have been increasingly subject to pre-print censorship, a practice which began on Feb. 6, says Article 19.

The Sudanese National Security Services visit newspaper companies daily to check pre-printed materials and would physically remove any article they deem problematic and taboo. Those newspapers that do not comply with the censors risk having their publications confiscated and destroyed after the papers have gone to print.

The Ajras al-Hurriya and other Khartoum-based papers have launched weeks of protests against media censorship in Sudan. The day after the arrests, 10 newspapers suspended their publications for a day.

Earlier this month, more than 50 Sudanese journalists went on a one-day hunger strike and three newspapers, including the Ajras al-Hurriya, shut down for three days, report Article 19 and ANHRI. The columnists also decided to withdraw their columns in protest.

According to Article 19, censorship of the print press in Khartoum has largely been centered on the Darfur conflict and the turbulent political relationship with neighboring Chad. The latest press crackdown appears to be directed at discouraging news reports on the Sudan opposition leaders' summit due to be held on the conflict in Darfur.

The 2005 peace agreement that brought an end to Sudan's north-south civil war is meant to uphold freedom of expression and the press. ANHRI, Article 19, CPJ, and IFJ are urging the Sudanese authorities to guarantee media freedom as promised in the agreement.

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Amy Judd

at 20:54 on November 19th, 2008

I'm not surprised this happened, but it doesn't mean it should happen.

good piece

Paschen

at 22:25 on November 19th, 2008

Niger and Chad do have a long history of arresting Journalist as well. It is a worrying increase in the restrictions of the freedom of the Press.

Pythiian1

at 18:17 on December 6th, 2008

Thank you Amy, Paschen, and Rachel for flagging this story about press freedom.

Thank you to others for recommendations as well.

There is scant report on these arrests except through press freedom organizations mentioned in my piece, Reuters, and BBC. The Sudan Tribune still post online articles. A word of warning when accessing the English version of ANHRI website, there's a malware alert even on a Mac.

The former rebels, Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) has condemned the arrests and censorship. The SPLM governs in tandem with the Arab-led north has already protested Monday's arrests.

Apparently, the US has also protested these arrests and called for an end to these media censorship.

It's a growing concern for ANHRI and other organizations, for example when SNSS recently arrested a journalist from the Al Entibaha for printing an article about a fever outbreak in western Sudan. The journalist hasn't been seen or heard since the arrest.

According to the Sudan Tribune on Nov. 20, the head of Sudanese National Security and Intelligence Service, Mr. Salah Gosh who described press censorship as, "legal and constitutional."

zeet

at 17:27 on March 7th, 2009

I didn't know much about Sudan, until this piece.
Isn't it amazing we can sit here and blog about whatever we want, while they would arrest and maybe torture you for doing exactly that in Sudan.

Good and necessary piece, Pythiian.

Pythiian1

at 17:41 on March 7th, 2009

Thank you, Zeet. I'm delighted that this piece is useful precursor to the latest developments in Sudan. Press freedom is something that most developed countries enjoy, however, in developing nations, that important freedom of expression is limited on various levels, depends on the authority.