Sudan: Two journalists released, one still faces death penalty

English PEN welcomes the release from prison of Rai Al-Shaab deputy editor Abu Zar Al-Amin and Al-Sahafa journalist Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim on 22 and 28 August 2011 respectively. Both had been detained on anti-state charges since 2010. Ibrahim has reportedly been pardoned, whilst Al-Amin was released on bail and still faces the death penalty if convicted. We are therefore calling on the authorities to drop all remaining charges against Al-Amin, and are urging President Omar Al-Bashir to fulfil his recent promise to release all journalists detained in Sudan and to refrain from reinstating pre-publication censorship. Please send appeals – guidelines and addresses below.

Abu Zar Al-Amin, deputy editor of the opposition daily newspaper Rai Al-Shaab, was released on bail on 22 August 2011 after spending over 15 months in prison. Arrested in May 2010, he was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on 15 July 2010 for allegedly ‘undermining the constitutional system’ and ‘publishing false information’. The case reportedly stemmed from an article alleging that Iran had built a weapons factory in Sudan to supply insurgents in Africa and the Middle East. The sentence was reduced to a one year sentence on appeal, with the journalist due to be released on 3 July 2011.

However, Al-Amin’s release was delayed indefinitely after he was subsequently accused of attacking a security official. Al-Amin says that he was subjected to torture by the officer in question during his pre-trial detention in May 2010; however the authorities have failed to investigate these claims. Reports have indicated that he has suffered from deteriorating health as
a result of torture and the failure of the authorities to provide
adequate medical attention in prison. Al-Amin also faces further anti-state charges relating to articles written for Rai al-Shaab prior to his imprisonment, and could face the death penalty if convicted.

Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim, Darfuri journalist with the opposition newspaper Al-Sahafa, was released on 28 August 2011 after almost 10 months in detention. Arrested on 3 November 2010, he was held incommunicado until June 2011 when he was finally charged with ‘undermining the constitutional system’. His release followed an announcement by President Omar Al-Bashir on 27 August 2011 that he intended to free all journalists imprisoned in Sudan after local journalists requested pardons for their colleagues to coincide with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The charges against Ibrahim are presumed to have been dropped.

For more information on Al-Amin and Ibrahim’s cases, please click here.

Beyond Ibrahim’s release, it remains unclear what level of commitment will be given to President Al-Bashir’s promise. At least eight other journalists reportedly remain in detention in Sudan; some are believed to have worked for the banned Netherlands-based Radio Dabanga and all to have reported on Darfur, a highly sensitive subject for the Sudanese government. Despite this, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently told CNN that “to [his] knowledge, there are no other journalists detained”.

Concerns have been raised that the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) intends to reintroduce highly restrictive pre-publication censorship, which was previously enforced between 1989, after the NCP first seized power, and 2009. The details of the proposed new media legislation have not been made available to the public, with journalists and human rights experts having been excluded from the deliberations. However, it seems highly likely that any such measure would present a significant obstacle to achieving freedom of expression in Sudan.

Useful Links:

On Al-Amin’s release
- Reporters Without Borders (24 August 2011)

On Ibrahim’s release:
- Committee to Protect Journalists (30 August 2011)
- Reporters Without Borders (29 August 2011)

On the proposed restrictive media laws in Sudan:
- Index on Censorship (22 August 2011)

TAKE ACTION

Please send appeals (NB. A sample letter follows):

- Welcoming the release of Rai Al-Shaab deputy editor Abu Zar Al-Amin and Al-Sahafa journalist Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim on 22 and 28 August 2011 respectively;
- Expressing concern that Al-Amin, who was released on bail, still faces the death penalty if convicted on new charges introduced shortly before he completed his prison sentence;
- Calling on the Sudanese authorities to drop all remaining charges against Al-Amin;
- Calling on President Omar Al-Bashir to fulfil his recent promise to release all journalists detained in Sudan.

Appeals to:

HE President Omar Al Bashir
Office of the President
People’s Palace
PO Box 281
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 249 183 782 541/ 249 183 774339
Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Justice
Mr Mohammed Bushara Dousa
Ministry of Justice, PO Box 302
Al Nil Avenue
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 249 183 764 168
Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:

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

Please also send copies of your appeal letters to the diplomatic representative for Sudan in your country 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

NB. Please do let us know if you send appeals, and certainly if you receive a response by emailing cat@englishpen.org

SAMPLE LETTER

Please do write a more personal letter if you have time – the following is just an example:

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
[DATE]

Your Excellency,

I am writing to you as a member of English PEN, the founding centre of the international association of writers, to welcome the release of Rai Al-Shaab deputy editor Abu Zar Al-Amin and Al-Sahafa journalist Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim. However, I remain deeply concerned for Abu Zar Al-Amin who could still face the death penalty if convicted of further anti-state charges.

According to PEN’s information, Abu Zar Al-Aminwas released on bail on 22 August 2011 after spending over 15 months in prison. Arrested in May 2010, Al-Amin was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on 15 July 2010 for allegedly ‘undermining the constitutional system’ and ‘publishing false information’, but the sentence was reduced to a one year sentence on appeal. I understand that Abu Zar Al-Amin is now facing further anti-state charges relating to articles written for Rai al-Shaab prior to his imprisonment and that he would face the death penalty if convicted. I am therefore writing to respectfully urge the Sudanese authorities to drop all remaining charges against him. 

Journalist for the opposition newspaper Al-Sahafa Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim was also released in August 2011, after almost 10 months in detention. Arrested on 3 November 2010, he was held incommunicado until June 2011 when he was finally charged with ‘undermining the constitutional system’. The charges against Ibrahim are presumed to have been dropped.  

Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim’s release followed an announcement by His Excellency President Omar Al-Bashir on 27 August 2011 that he intended to free all journalists imprisoned in Sudan. Whilst I welcome the release of Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim, I would therefore like to take this opportunity to respectfully call upon President Omar Al-Bashir to fulfil this promise by releasing all journalists currently detained in Sudan immediately and unconditionally.

I would welcome your comments on my appeal.

Yours sincerely,

[NAME, PROFESSION, ADDRESS]