African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies ACJPS | المركز الافريقي لدراسات العدالة و السلام
(26 February 2015) Just over a month before the scheduled General Elections on 2 April 2015, Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) have escalated restrictions on print media in Sudan. The restrictions are believed to be a tactic by the NISS to circumscribe the already restrictive space for the freedom of expression in Sudan and prevent dissemination of news deemed critical to the ruling National Congress Party (NCP). Tactics frequently used by the NISS, such as the seizure of consecutive newspaper editions and the harassment of journalists have continued, as well as the pressing of criminal charges against journalists for publishing on “red line” issues.
Whilst the seizure by security agents of print runs before morning distribution has become increasingly familiar to Khartoum’s media houses, recent confiscations – including the entire print run of 14 newspapers on 16 February alone – point to a changing dynamic ahead of the elections. The increasingly blurry non-official “red lines” over which publishers cannot cross are unwritten, and often no rationale for confiscation is given by the NISS.
The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) has documented the confiscation of at least 33 entire print runs of 15 newspapers since the beginning of 2015.
Confiscation of Print runs
On 16 February the print runs of 14 newspapers were confiscated by the NISS without any formal reasons being given. Media sources speculated that the confiscation could have been linked to the publication of articles on 15 February which reported military gains made by the rebel Sudanese Peoples’ Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) in battle with the Sudanese Armed Forces, and news of scores of containers with radioactive materials reportedly found at Port Sudan.
The 14 newspapers confiscated on 16 February included 12 political titles – Al-Sudani, Al-Radi Alaam, Akhir Lahza, Al-Intebaha, Al Ehram Alyoum, Alwan, Alwatan, Awal Alnihr, Almejhar Alsiasi, Akhbar Alyoum, Al-Siha and Al Tayar – as well as two “social newspapers” known for their non-political content, Hekayat and Al-Daar.
Many of the newspapers confiscated on the 16 February are owned by prominent NCP members. The confiscations are indicative of growing rifts within the ruling party, and President Omar al Bashir’s expanding use of the NISS to assert his authority within the NCP.
Four of the newspapers targeted on 16 February were confiscated for a second time two days later, on 18 February. The NISS confiscated print runs of Al –Intebaha, Al-Sudani, Al-Mejhar and Al-Tageer without providing any rationale.
Targeted attacks of newspapers and criminal charges against journalists
Some newspapers, particularly those aligned with opposition political parties, have been particularly subjected to NISS censorship and the harassment of journalists. Al Midan, affiliated with the Sudanese Communist Party, has been confiscated ten times in 2015 so far, with the most recent confiscation on 1 February. No formal rationale has been given by the NISS.
On 17 January 2015, the Prosecutor of Crimes against the State issued charges against Ms. Madiha Abdulla, Chief Editor of Al Midan, journalist Ibrahim Merghani, the head of the political section of Al Midan, and writer and Communist party leader Suleiman Hamid. They were charged under articles 21 (Joint acts of criminal conspiracy), 63 (calling for opposition to public authority by use of violence or criminal force), and 66 (publication of false news) of the 1991 Sudanese Penal Code and articles 24 (criminal liability of editor in chief) and 26 (conditions of newspaper licenses) of the 2010 Media and Publications Act.
Ms. Abdulla had previously been charged on 14 January under articles 50 (Undermining the Constitutional System), 63 (Calling for Opposition to Public Authority by use of Violence or Criminal Force), and 66 (Publication of False News) of the 1991 Sudanese Penal Code. Article 50 of the Penal Code falls under the category of crimes against the state, and carries the death penalty. Ms. Abdulla was summoned to the Office of the Prosecutor on 14 January and released on bail later the same day.
The charges against the three journalists are believed to be related to articles published including comments by Abdelaziz Al Hilu, a leader of the SPLM-N, regarding the economic situation facing the Lagawa people in West Kordofan and the burning of palm trees by the government to clear land in Northern Sudan. The next court session is scheduled for 1 March 2015. Ms. Abdulla has already attended one court session.
Entire print runs of the daily Al Tayar have been confiscated on six occasions this year, including three times in January and three times in February (on 11, 16 and 17 February).
Akhir Lahza daily has been confiscated three times, on 28 January, 2 February and 16 February. Whilst reasons for confiscation have not been provided, a reliable source told ACJPS that the confiscation on 2 February was linked to a headline the paper ran the day before intimating that the NCP will remain in power regardless of the upcoming General Election.
Al Ehram Alyoum has been confiscated twice, once on 28 January and again during the mass confiscation on 16 February. A reliable source told ACJPS that the January 28 confiscation may have been linked to an article published the previous day on calls for a postponement of the General Election.
Harassment and prosecution of journalists
On 28 January 2015 the NISS summoned Ms. Nada Ramdan, a journalist working with Al Gereeda newspaper, to their offices in the Khartoum 2 area. She remained at the office for three hours before she was released. She was not interrogated or informed of the reason for the summons, but was told that she would likely be called to report back. She has not yet been summoned again by the NISS.
On 11 February 2015 the NISS of Khartoum summoned Ms. Enaam Adam, a female journalist working with Al Tayar newspaper, and interrogated her about an article she wrote on containers of radioactive materials she published the day before. She was released the same day.
Background
The recent confiscations, harassment and intimidation of journalists, and criminal charges filed by the NISS comes amidst increasing restrictions on freedom of expression, association and assembly in Sudan and the routine obstruction of the work of independent civil society organisations. Severe formal and informal restrictions have also been placed on political opposition parties and their members, including the application of broad and vaguely worded offenses to censor perceived critics of the ruling party.
Post-print censorship, when a newspaper’s edition is confiscated after being printed, causes significant financial losses to media outlets and has been increasingly used as a tool by the NISS to intimidate editors from publishing on what are often referred to as ‘red line’ issues, which are issues which the GoS deems sensitive and seeks to control in public debate. Post-print censorship can have the effect of causing editors to self censor, as confiscation could cost a newspaper up to $5,000 in printing costs.
At 11am on 18 January, the NISS of Omdurman, Khartoum state, raided the Mahmoud Mohamed Taha Centre whilst a ceremony commemorating the life of Mahmoud Mohamed Taha was taking place. 18 January 2015 marked the thirty year anniversary of the execution of Mahmoud Mohamed Taha, founder of the Republican Party in Sudan. The Republican Party proclaims to oppose Islamic fundamentalism and promote secularism. Taha was executed days after being convicted of apostasy in 1985 on the basis of his opposition to Sudan’s interpretation of Sharia law. On 21 January 2015 the Centre received letter no. 1/2015 from the Ministry of Culture, cancelling its registration.
On 21 December 2014 seven members of the NISS raided the offices of the Sudanese Human Rights Monitor (SHRM) in Khartoum, a human rights organisation founded by Dr Amin Mekki Medani. A workshop on the Universal Periodic Review of Sudan taking place on the premises was stopped and participants were required to leave. One participant, Mr. Mohamed Al Fateh Hima, was arrested by the NISS and released later the same day without charge. Mr. Hima is a journalist at Al Midan newspaper and a member of the secretariat of the independent Sudanese Journalist Network. A number of laptops and documents were confiscated. The SHRM did not receive any formal communication from the HAC, under which it is registered, concerning the raid.
Contact: Mohamed Badawi, Human Rights Monitoring Programme Coordinator, on info@acjps.org or +256 788695068
