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Sudan Tribune

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Sudan blocks publication of daily newspaper

October 23, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – A Sudanese newspaper was prevented from publishing its Sunday edition by the country’s security authorities, in their latest assault against media freedom.

A Sudanese man reads a newspaper as he waits to pay at a kiosk in the capital Khartoum (AFP)
A Sudanese man reads a newspaper as he waits to pay at a kiosk in the capital Khartoum (AFP)
Sudan targets local newspapers both morally and financially through a variety of measures including censorship and confiscation, despite the fact that the country’s constitution guarantees press freedom.

Individual journalists also complain of harassment by the authorities through legal proceedings and hefty fines.

The editor of the Arabic daily newspaper, Alwan told Reuters that security agents arrived late on Saturday night and banned the title from distributing its Sunday edition.

According to Alwan’s editor, Ahmed Younis, no reason was given for the ban.

“They told us the edition would be confiscated. Until now I have no ideas why they did that. I think they just want put pressure on the publisher,” Younis said.

Alwan was previously suspended for two years as of May 2008 by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), which accused the paper of revealing “military intelligence” following an attack by a rebel group from the country’s western region of Darfur on the capital Khartoum.

The title resumed publication in March 2010. Alwan is believed to be particularly popular among supporters of the opposition Popular Congress Party (PCP) led by the veteran Islamist Hassan Al-Turabi who has been a vociferous critic of the country’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP), since he was ousted from power in 1999.

Alwan’s owner, Hussain Khaojali, is a prominent media figure and well known Islamist who opposed the ouster of Al-Turabi.

Last month, Sudan closed the privately owned Al-Jarida daily and has hitherto confiscated copies of several dailies, inflicting heavy financial losses on the already hard-pressed papers.

On 8 September, security authorities reportedly banned the independent daily Al-Sahafah from publishing its edition.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an advocacy group, this year reported that Sudanese authorities continue to “aggressively” target individual journalists and publications through “contrived legal proceedings, politicized criminal charges, and confiscations”

Results published as part of UNESCO 2011 World Press Freedom Day, Sudan ranks as 40 out of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa for press freedom. Amnesty International described Sudan as a place where freedom of speech is being “openly violated.”

(ST)

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