Incommunicado detentions and increase in media gags amidst heavy crackdown on anti-government protests in Sudan.
(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.