Sudan: Mass arrests of journalists; fears for their safety

English PEN is alarmed by the wave of arrests of journalists during recent street protests calling for democratic change in Sudan. We are particularly concerned by the detention of 12 journalists, 11 of whom were arrested between January and February 2011. We consider these detentions to be in violation of the journalists’ right to freedom of expression, and call on the Sudanese authorities to disclose their whereabouts and to bring about their immediate and unconditional release.

According to our information, nine journalists from Al-Midan opposition newspaper – Samir Salah Eldin, Mohamed Rahama, Kamal Karrar, Ibrahim Mirghani, Suleiman Wida’a, Khaled Tawfiq, Mohaned el-Dirdiri, Fatima Bashir and Fathia Tinga – were all arrested on 3 February 2011 for their coverage of street protests on 30 January. Their whereabouts remain unknown and there are fears for their safety as they are considered to be at risk of torture and ill-treatment.

Reports also suggest that several other journalists are still being held by the security services in Khartoum. Hamza Baloul and Ali Ahmad Haj Al-Amin of Al-Ahdath newspaper were arrested on 10 January by the security forces for covering student protests and are believed to be being held incommunicado. Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim from Alsahafa newspaper was arrested more than three months ago, on 3 November 2010; his whereabouts remain unknown. PEN is anxious about the safety of these three journalists and call for their whereabouts to be disclosed immediately.

Five other journalists from Alsahafa, Akhbar al-Youm, Al-Jarida and Ajras Al-huriya who were arrested on 10 January 2011 were reportedly released on 1 February 2011. On 2 February two other journalists arrested on 10 January 2011, Abu Eisha Kazim and Abdel Gadir Bakash of Sawt al- Bar’out, were acquitted by a court in Khartoum.

English PEN considers the journalists’ detention to be in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and calls on the Sudanese authorities to release them immediately and unconditionally. In the meantime, we urge the authorities to disclose the whereabouts of all detained journalists, and seek assurances that they will not be ill treated while in detention.

Useful links:

- Statement by Amnesty International (3 February 2011)

- Report by Reporters Without Borders (4 February 2011)

Additional Information:

Torture or other forms of ill-treatment of human rights activists and journalists by the National Intelligence and Security Services is often reported in Sudan, particularly amongst Darfuris and when those detained are not given access to the outside world. Amnesty International documented many cases of torture and ill-treatment in detention against human rights activists and journalists, and amongst Darfuris, namely at the hands of the NISS.

The NISS continues to impose restrictions on freedom of expression in Sudan and to target journalists in relation to their writing. Journalists are often prosecuted for their peaceful expression of their opinions. In June 2010, six opposition journalists from Rai Al Shaab newspaper were arrested by the NISS. Some of them were tortured and otherwise ill-treated, three of them, Abuzar Al Amin, Al Tahir Abujawhara and Ashraf Abdelaziz were sentenced to five and two years in prison in relation to an article written by Abuzar Al Amin.

The 2010 National Security Act (2010 NSA), passed in December 2009, provides extensive powers of arrest and detention to members of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS). Under the same Act, NISS agents are also provided with immunity from prosecution for any act committed in the course of their work. The 2010 NSA maintained powers and immunities provided under the previous law, the 1999 National Security Forces Act. As a result of these laws, a culture of impunity has pervaded in Sudan and NISS members have been carrying out human rights violations with impunity.

Although Sudan’s Criminal Procedure Code contains safeguards against incommunicado detention, Article 50 of the 2010 NSA stipulates that the NISS can arrest and detain any person for a total period of four and a half months without judicial oversight. The 2010 Act does not specify the grounds on which such detentions can be made. Such incommunicado detention without access to the outside world and without any outside inspection increases the likelihood of torture taking place.

TAKE ACTION

Please send appeals:

- Protesting the arrest and incommunicado detention of Al-Midan journalists Samir Salah Eldin, Mohamed Rahama, Kamal Karrar, Ibrahim Mirghani, Suleiman Wida’a, Khaled Tawfiq, Mohaned el-Dirdiri, Fatima Bashir, Fathia Tinga, journalists Hamza Baloul and Ali Ahmad Haj Al- Amin of Al-Ahdath and Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim of Alsahafa, as a clear violation of their right to freedom of expression;
- Urging the Sudanese authorities to disclose the whereabouts of all detained journalists and guarantee them immediate access to family and lawyers;  
- Calling on the authorities to release these journalists immediately and unconditionally in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Send appeals to:

HE President Omar Al Bashir
Office of the President
People’s Palace
PO Box 281
Khartoum
Fax: 249 183 774339
Salutation: Your Excellency

Mohamed Atta Al-Moula Abbas
Director of the NISS
NISS Headquarters
Khartoum
Salutation: Dear Director Abbas

And copies to:

Dr Priscilla Joseph
Chair of the Human Rights Committee
National Assembly
Omdurman
Fax: 249 187 560 980
Salutation: Dear Dr Joseph

Please also send copies of your appeal letters to the diplomatic representative for Sudan in the UK if possible:

His Excellency Mr Abdullahi Hamad Ali Alazreg
Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan
3 Cleveland Row,
London
SW1A 1DD

Fax: 020 7839 7560
Email: mtsudanembassy@yahoo.co.uk