NISS Continues to Violate Freedom of Expression in Sudan

(21 June 2012) In June 2012 the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) of Sudan launched a renewed campaign to intimidate, harass, and silence the media in the country largely through the prevention of distribution of newspapers containing sensitive material and through pre-press censorship. Below find the list of relevant incidents.

• On 4 June the NISS prevented the distribution of Alentbaha newspaper. Alentbaha is affiliated with the NCP but according to the chief editor, the reason behind the action was that the paper contained article criticizing the government’s policy to remove the subsidies for petroleum.

• On 5 June the NISS prevented the distribution of Aljareeda’s newspaper from distributing copies of the already printed paper.

• On 12 June the NISS prevented Altyaar newspaper from distributing printed copies of its newspaper and indefinitely suspended it from publishing.

• On 12 June the NISS prevented Alehram Alyoum newspaper from distributing printed copies of its newspaper. According to the chief editor the reason behind the NISS action was that the paper contained an interview with Mr. Pagan Amum, the head of South Sudan’s negotiating team.

• On 17 June the NISS prevented three newspapers, Alwatan, Alahdath and Aljareeda from distributing printed copies of its paper.

• Also on 17 June the pre-print censorship division of NISS prevented Almidan from printing its issue.  Almidan has been repeatedly targeted by NISS for censorship. NISS has prevented it from printing its paper 19 times since the 3^rd of May 2012.  Throughout this period NISS ordered the paper, through phone calls, to not publish articles covering petroleum subsidies, protests and the economic implications of the rising cost of oil. 

• On 18 June, the NISS prevented Aljareeda newspaper from distributing printed copies of its paper.

• On 9 June the NISS in El Obeid, North Kordofan arrested Mr. Amro Abkar, a reporter for Aljareeda, while he was covering a protest against El Obeid Hospital over a lack of medicines. On the same day, the police attacked and beat two journalists, Abdlbagi Azafir and Fatima Ahmadoum while they were covering a protest in Khartoum

• On 11 June the Chief Editor of Almidan and a journalist, Mr. Ahmed Saad will attend a second court session before Khartoum North court in the case filed by NISS against Almidan and Mr. Saad for an article he published last April on Yousef Kua, an SPLA leader.  He was charged with defamation under article 77 of the 1991 Sudanese Criminal Act.   

• On 23 May Khartoum North Court heard a case filed against Al Midan by the Committee of Investigation on Blue Nile. The case was based on an article published on 27 November 2011 documenting the sentencing of Abdulmonim Rahma and 19 other members of the SPLM-N to death. In addition to the chief editor of the newspaper, the trial was attended by Adel Colure, lawyer and member of the Popular Congress Party, Kamal Omar, and Azdhar Jumma, a lawyer and member of the SPLM-N, all of whom had given comments in the relevant article. The hearing was delayed until 26 June 2012.  

The price of printing newspapers in Sudan has risen prohibitively, causing a number of papers to temporarily stop printing. On 13 and 14 June, Alayam did not print because of the cost. Citizen newspaper has not issued a paper since 11 June and Alshahid, Alyoum Altali and Alhurra may cease printing permanently.   

The African Centre for Justice and Peace calls on the government of Sudan to respect the freedom of expression through its regulatory body, the Press and Publications Council. The government should immediately end its policies of pre-publication censorship, harassment of journalists and newspapers, and use of intimidation tactics designed to prevent media officials from reporting on issues the government deems sensitive.