Sudan: Two Rai al-Shaab reporters released, editor still detained

English PEN welcomes the release from prison of Rai al-Shaab journalists Ashraf Abdelaziz and Altahir Ibrahim on 6 February 2011, on completion of their sentence. However, we remain concerned about the continued detention of Rai al-Shaab deputy editor Abu Zar Al-Amin, who was sentenced in July 2010 to five years in prison, and who is reportedly suffering from poor health as a result of torture. We also protest the continued incommunicado detention of nine other journalists. We believe the detention of Al-Amin and the nine other journalists to be in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and call on the Sudanese authorities to release them immediately and unconditionally.

Abu Zar Al-Amin, Ashraf Abdelaziz and Altahir Ibrahim, respectively deputy editor and reporters working for the opposition daily newspaper Rai al-Shaab, were arrested during a raid by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) on the newspaper’s offices in Khartoum on 16 May 2010. Al-Amin and Ibrahim were reportedly tortured by NISS agents. On 15 July 2010, all three journalists were convicted of ‘undermining the constitutional system’ and ‘publishing false information’. Al-Amin was sentenced to five years in prison while Abdelaziz and Ibrahim received two-year sentences.

Both Abdelaziz and Ibrahim were released on 6 February 2011 after completing a one-year prison sentence; their sentences had been reduced on appeal from two years to one in November 2010. Rai al-Shaab was suspended for one year at the same hearing. On the journalists’ release, they stated that they had been tortured during their initial detention and they were not informed of the reason for their arrest. They also said that conditions at Kober prison were very poor, with overcrowding a particular problem.

Al-Amin remains in prison; it is assumed that his appeal was unsuccessful. Reports suggest that he is suffering from poor health as a result of torture and that he is not receiving adequate medical attention.

In a separate case, Khaled Tawfiq, Kamal Karrar, Ibrahim Mirghani and Mohamed Rahma from Al-Midan newspaper, who were arrested on 3 February 2011, were released on 12 February. (Click here for more information).

However, nine other journalists remain in detention in Sudan and their whereabouts are still unknown. Samir Salah Eldin, Suleiman Wida’a, Mohamed El-Dirdiri, Abdelazeem Albadawi, Fatima Bashir and Fathia Tinga of Al-Midan, have been detained since 3 February 2011, while Hamza Baloul and Ali Ahmad Haj Al-Amin of Al-Ahdath have been held since 10 January; all of them were arrested after covering protests (Click here for more information). Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim of Al-Sahafa has been detained since 3 November 2010 (Click here for more information).

Useful links

- Reporters without Borders (4 March 2011): Three journalists freed, five others still detained

TAKE ACTION:

Please send appeals:

- Welcoming the release of Rai al-Shaab journalists Ashraf Abdel Aziz and Altahir Ibrahim and four other journalists from Al-Midan newspaper;
- Protesting the arrest and ongoing detention of Rai al-Shaab editor Abu Zar Al-Amin, Al-Midan journalists Samir Salah Eldin, Suleiman Wida’a, Mohamed El-Dirdiri, Abdelazeem Albadawi, Fatima Bashir and Fathia Tinga, Al-Sahafa journalist Jaafar Alsabki  and Al-Ahdath journalists Hamza Baloul and Ali Ahmad Haj Al-Amin in violation of their right to freedom of expression;
- Expressing serious concern that some of the journalists have been held incommunicado and that Al-Amin has reportedly been subjected to torture;
- Calling on the Sudanese authorities to release all the journalists immediately and unconditionally and to investigate the allegations of torture against Al-Amin;
- Urging the authorities to ensure that while Al-Amin remains in detention he receives the medical attention he requires.

Send appeals to:

His Excellency 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 the Republic of Sudan in the UK:

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
Salutation: Your Excellency