Sudanese security seizes copies of Akhir Lahza newspaper
June 20, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) on Monday has confiscated copies of Akhir Lahza daily newspaper from the printing house without stating any reasons.
Journalists working for the newspaper said the confiscation resulted in heavy financial losses, pointing that Akhir-Lahza runs about 10,000 copies daily.
A journalist at Akhir Lahaza said the confiscation was likely due to publishing a report that addressed organizational changes within the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) following statements made by the former First Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha in which he criticized the national dialogue process.
It is noteworthy that Akhir Lahza newspaper is owned by the prominent member of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and former governor of South Darfur state Al-Hag Atta al-Manan.
The NISS routinely confiscates newspapers either to prevent circulation of certain stories or to punish them retroactively on previous issues.
Sudan’s constitution guarantees freedom of expression but laws subordinate to the constitution such as the National Security Forces Act of 2010 contains articles that can be potentially used to curtail press freedom and instigate legal proceedings against newspapers and individual journalists.
(ST)