Sudanese newspaper suspended for allegedly promoting alcohol

KHARTOUM, Sept 30 (AFP) — Sudanese authorities have suspended publication of a newspaper for carrying an advertisement it charged was encouraging people to drink alcohol, the newspaper said Tuesday.

The editor in chief of the Al-Sahafa newspaper, Haidar al-Makachfi, told AFP that the National Press Council notified the daily that publication would be halted for three days from Wednesday.

He said the decision came in response to the publication Monday of an advertisement from Ethiopian Airlines offering flights between Khartoum and Paris, where passengers could “enjoy unrivalled wines.”

Makachfi said his newspaper would appeal the decision.

Alcohol has been banned in Sudan since 1983, when Islamic law started being enforced.