(24 January 2019) The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) has continued to document a surge in media restrictions based on coverage of anti-government protests. ACJPS remains concerned for the well-being and physical safety of those who remain in detention, particularly those detained incommunicado following crackdowns on the anti- government protests that have occurred across Sudan since mid-December 2018.
ACJPS received information about the arrest and detention of Mr. Adil Ibrahim, a freelance journalist and blogger by the National and Intelligence Security Services (NISS) of Khartoum on 14 January 2019. His whereabouts remain unknown. A reliable source informs ACJPS that Mr Ibrahim has not had access to his lawyers or family members since his arrest.
On 17 January 2019 at 02:00 am, the NISS of Omdurman arrested and detained in an unknown location, 4 musicians from the house of Mr. Hassan Mubarak, located in Banat neighbourhood in Omdurman. Reasons for their arrest remain unknown. The names of those detained are:
- Hassan Mubarak Hassan Khalifa (m),
- Hani Abdein (m)
- Hassan Garguri (m)
- Jamal Tabidi (m)
ACJPS is also aware of five journalists who are currently being detained incommunicado by the Sudanese authorities. It is suspected that they are being held based on their coverage of the anti-government protests. ACJPS has received reliable information that the detainees have not had access to lawyers or family members. They are:
- Munier Addu Rahman(m), a journalist who works for Wad Madani radio in Aljazeera State. He was arrested on 10 January 2019 from Rufaa town in Aljazeera state.
- Kamal Karar (m), a journalist working for Al Midan newspaper which is affiliated with Sudanese Communist Party. He was arrested from his house located in Khartoum Bahri on 31 December 2018. Mr Karar is being detained in the political section of the NISS in Khartoum Bahri.
- Agail Ahmed Naaiem(m), he was arrested on 9 January 2019 from Aljaili neighbourhood of Khartoum Bahri. She is being detained in an unknown location.
- Gurashi Awaad (m), a journalist with Al Midan newspaper which is affiliated with Sudanese communist party. He was arrested on 3 January 2019 from office of Dr. Hassan Abdul Atti (m), located in Altyaar neighbourhood of Khartoum and being detained at the political section of the NISS in Khartoum Bahri. Dr Hassan Abdul Atti was previously arrested and released by NISS on 3 January 2019 from his office in Khartoum on suspicion of his involvement in the December protest.
- Ismail Belal (m). He works for Northern State Television. He was arrested on 22 December 2018, from Doungla in the Northern state. He remains detained in an unknown location.
On 15 January 2019, Mr Abdul Gani Karam Allah (m), a writer, fine artist and Photography trainer was arrested by NISS from Khartoum while participating in the protest and was taken to the Northern Police station of Khartoum. He was released later at 7:00Pm. Mr Karam Allah was previously arrested for participating in anti-austerity measures protest on 16 January 2018 by NISS and was transferred to the NISS department in Shalla Federal prison located in North Darfur State. He was released on 19 March 2018.
The lack of access to lawyers and family members to the detainees, together with the well-documented use by the NISS of torture and other forms of ill-treatment against detainees, particularly whilst held in unknown locations, gives rise to serious concerns for their safety.
The authorities have also continued to target media professionals including foreign correspondents with arrests or judicial summons for covering the protest and/or publishing protest related stories. In some incidents documented, the authorities have banned journalists from writing, revoked their licences and even refused to renew licences.
The foreign media department cancels the licence of a foreign media correspondent and refuses to renew licences of Aljazeera Channel and Alanadoul Agency correspondents.
On 21 January 2019, the foreign media department without giving any reasons cancelled the licence of Mr. Saad Eldien Hassan (m), a Sudanese national working as correspondent for Alhadath television, a sister news channel to Al-Arabiya Television that broadcasts from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Mr. Hassan was summoned to the office of the NISS political section on 20 January 2019. He was released later that same after a brief interrogation by a NISS officer. This is the second time Mr Hassan has been summoned and interrogated by NISS this year. NISS allegedly accused him of not being professional and of acting against the interest of the state. Alhadath news Channel is one of the few foreign media houses that has been reporting on the protest including updates on use of tear gas and live ammunition by Sudanese authorities against unarmed protesters.
On 16 January 2019, NISS filed a criminal case against Mr. Hassan, Al-Hadath and Al-Arabiya stations for publishing “false news” under Article 66 of Sudanese Penal Code of 1991, which carries a penalty of up to 6-month imprisonment if convicted.
On 21 January 2019, the foreign media department of Sudan refused to renew the licences of the following journalist working for Aljazeera Chanel as news correspondents. No reasons were provided for the refusal but it’s likely that it relates to their coverage of the ongoing protest. Their names are:
- Ahmed Alrehid (m), a correspondent for Aljazeera Channel
- Osama Sid Ahmed(m), a correspondent for Aljazeera Channel
- Hiba Margan (f), a correspondent for Aljazeera Channel
- Badawi Bashir (m), a camera man for Aljazeera Mubashir Channel
- Baram Abdul Monim (m), a correspondent for Alanadoul Agency
NISS bans journalist from writing
On 19 January 2019, NISS banned Ms Suhir Abdul Rahim, a journalist with Al Intibaha newspaper from writing for an unknown period. ACJPS received reliable information that the ban could be related to an article Ms Shuhir previously published on the same day titled, We are looking for the key of the left. Ms Shuhir has previously been banned for 3 days in January 2019 for publishing two articles titled, Is he going to stay and Rape is how it is. She was also banned for a week for tweeting articles that criticized the Sudanese President, Omer Al Bashir and supported the anti-government protests.
Journalists arrested for protesting against media restrictions.
On 15 January 2019, the NISS of Khartoum arrested 27 journalists and media professionals from the main street in the Central Khartoum as they headed for a peaceful protest that was scheduled to take place in front of the office of NISS Media Department, located in Maak Nemier Street in Central Khartoum. The aim of the protest was to demonstrate against the ongoing censorship against Algareeda newspaper by the NISS of Khartoum. Detainees were taken to the NISS political section located in Shandi bus station in Khartoum Bahri. ACJPS has been reliably informed that detainees were forced to stand for an hour while facing the wall of the parking space located inside the building. Detainees were also allegedly called liars for publishing “false news” before they were moved inside the building where they were offered water and tea. All detainees were released later that same day. Their names are:
- Awad Mohamed Yousef Awad (m), he is a publisher and chairperson of the board members of Algareeda newspaper.
- Ashraf Abdul Aziz, (m), Chief Editor of Algareeda newspaper
- Majid Algona(m), the Director of Algareeda newspaper
- Ali Al-Dali, (m), journalist with Algareeda newspaper
- Mohamed Al-Agraa, (m), journalist with Algareeda newspaper
- Osman Obid, (m), journalist with Algareeda newspaper
- Hatim Didiri (m), Journalist with Algareeda newspaper
- Mansour Ahmed Osman(m), journalist with Algareeda newspaper
- Bahram Abdulmonim, (m), corresponded with Al-andol news agent
- Nada Ramadan, (f), journalist with Algareeda newspaper
- Shaza Elsheikh, (f), journalist with Algareeda newspaper
- Fadwa Khazraji, (f) journalist with Algareeda newspaper
- Sara Taj Elsir, (f), journalist with Algareeda newspaper
- Hnadi Sidiq, (f), journalist with Algareeda newspaper
- Saad Alkhidir, (f), Journalist with Algareeda newspaper
- Awatif Idris, (f), Journalist of Algareeda newspaper
- Mohamed Almukhtar Mohamed, (m), a journalist of Algareeda newspaper
- Haidar Khir Allah, (m), a writer with Algareeda newspaper
- Bushra Al-Saim, (m), a writer with Algareeda newspaper
- Emtithal Suliman Abdul Fadil, (f), a journalist with Alwifag newspaper
- Mustafa Dakam, (f), a Journalist with AlAlahram Alyoum
- Mohamed Mahamdo, (m), a journalist with Almustagila newspaper
- Abu Abida Awad, (m), a Journalist with Alshari Alsudani newspaper
- Ammar Hassan, (m), Journalist of Altyaar newspaper
- Mohamed Mahmoud Alsabahi, (m), freelance journalist
- Imtinan Abdul Radi, (f), a Journalist with Alyoum Altaali newspaper
- Musab Alsharif, (m), an online journalist who publishes articles on Rwmatte Alhadaq website.
Journalists charged with public nuisance for covering anti-government protests
On 17 January 2019 at 1. 30 PM, the NISS of Khartoum arrested eight journalists and media professionals and detained them at the Northern Police station of Khartoum. Journalists were arrested while covering a protest announced by professionals committee in Khartoum y. They were all charged with the offence of public nuisance (Article 77) of the Sudanese Penal Code of 1991. The charge was registered as number 61/2019. They were all released on bail that same day at about 7 PM. Their names are:
- Faisal Mohamed Salih, (m), Chief Editor of Alyoum Altali newspaper, Director of Tiba Press House in Khartoum and human rights defender.
- Shamail Elnoor, (f), a journalist with Altyaar newspaper and human rights defender. Elnoor was earlier arrested and released on 27 December 2018.
- Khalid Fathi, (m), Chief Editor of Altyaar newspaper.
- Mohamed Salman, (m), journalist with Altyaar newspaper.
- Alzain Osman, (m), journalist with Alyoum Altaali news paper
- Musab Alhadi. (m), a journalist of Algareeda newspaper
- Abdul Hadi Alhaj, (m), a journalist of Algareeda newspaper
- Hamad Suliman, (m), a newspaper designer.
NISS prevents foreign media houses from hosting guest without authorisation.
The NISS has also prevented all the foreign media from hosting any guest from inside Sudan to give speech or analysis on the on-going protest before they get a permission which is also issued by NISS.
Pre- publication censorship of Algareeda and Altayaar newspapers by NISS
On 14-16 and 21 January 2019, the NISS of Khartoum denied the publication Algareeda newspaper. This followed their failure to comply with NISS’ instructions not to publish any information related to the ongoing protest including victim’s ordeal.
On 15 January 2019, NISS asked Altayaar newspaper to remove a column written by journalist Shamail Elnoor (f) as pre-condition for them to proceed with printing and publication.
NISS confiscates Altar and Albaath newspapers .
On 14 January 2019, NISS confiscated both Altayaar newspaper and Albaath newspaper affiliated with Arabic Baath Party without giving any reasons.
On 15 January 2019, the NISS of Khartoum confiscated the printed copies of Al-Intebaha newspaper without giving any reasons.
On 16 January 2019, NISS confiscated the printed copies of Altayaar newspaper without giving any reason.
On 21 January 2019, NISS confiscated both Altayaar newspaper and Albaath newspaper affiliated with Arabic Baath Party without any reason given.
ACJPS calls upon the Government of Sudan to guarantee the safety and well-being of all detainees and grant them immediate and unequivocal access to their lawyers and family members, medical services and release them in the absence of valid legal charges consistent with international standards. We reiterate previous calls to the Government of Sudan to immediately end its policies of pre- and post- print censorship of newspapers, which severely circumscribes the availability of information in the public sphere and hinders freedom of expression and access to information. We recommend that the Sudanese Government provide compensation to the various newspapers for financial loss incurred as a result of the confiscations.
Background
On 19 December 2018, protest broke out in the Eastern City of Atbara spreading across other parts of the county following severe shortages of fuel and bread resulting from the austerity measures imposed under the 2018 Sudanese Budget. By 31 December 2018, the the demonstration had quickly developed into an anti-government rally calling for the resignation of President Omar Al Bashir, following a violent response from the Sudanese authorities. The NISS, Police and the Sudanese army have responded by cracking down severely and continually. Live bullets and tear gas have been fired into the crowd to disperse the peaceful protest resulting in several deaths and injuries including children. Hundreds have been arrested and detained, including incommunicado, for participating and suspected participation in the protest.
Pre-and Post-print censorship is routinely used by the NISS to intimidate editors from publishing on what are often referred to as ‘red line’ issues, which are issues that the authorities deem sensitive and seek to control in public debate. It is also thought to have the intended impact of causing editors to self-censor to avoid financial losses.
Since the protest broke out on 19 December 2018, Sudanese authorities have continued to use excessive force and carried out a campaign of massive arrest and detention, including incommunicado, of protesters. On 17 January 2019, ACJPS documented the arbitrary arrest and detention of activist, including journalist, human rights defenders, doctors, students, professors and opposition political party leaders suspected of leading or coordinating the December protests in various states across Sudan and pre-publication censorship of newspapers for their coverage of the peaceful protests.
The Government’s response to the growing anti- government protest violates numerous rights including the right to freedom of assembly, association and expression, right to personal liberty, prohibition against torture and ill-treatment, among others, guaranteed in Sudan’s Interim National Constitution, 2005.
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