Veteran Sudanese journalist wins press freedom prize

SEOUL, May 30 (AFP) — Veteran Sudanese journalist Mahgoub Mohamed Salih received the World Association of Newspapers’ (WAN) 2005 press freedom award here Monday.

Presenting the award at the opening of the WAN’s annual World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum, forum president George Brock said the Golden Pen of Freedom award was for a lifetime of achievement in defending freedom of expression.

“Sudan is one of the most restrictive media climates on the continent of Africa,” he said. “We call on the Sudanese government to repeal all laws that inhibit press freedom.”

Salih, 75, is editor-in-chief of Al-Ayam, Sudan’s oldest independent newspaper, and has been jailed repeatedly during his more than five decades as a journalist.

“During my more than half century of work I have experienced all types of repression and harassment,” he said. He and fellow journalists were motivated by a commitment to freedom of expression, he said.

Had newspapers been allowed to report freely in his country, Sudan’s decades of civil war would have been averted, he said.

“That proves that freedom of expression and freedom of information are basic to peace and stability anywhere in the world,” he said.

The award was presented at the opening ceremony of the three-day gathering of more than 1,300 publishers, editors and other senior newspaper executives from 81 countries.

The Paris-based WAN defends and promotes press freedom worldwide.