Sudan’s Al-Jazeera trial opens with defense lawyer walkout
KHARTOUM, Feb 28 (AFP) — The trial of Arabic television channel Al-Jazeera’s bureau chief on charges of defamation of state, false reporting and customs violations opened in Sudan with a protest and walkout by the journalist’s defence lawyer.
Abdel Salam al-Jizouli, the defence lawyer of the Al-Jazeera Khartoum bureau chief, said he had withdrawn from Saturday’s first hearing in the trial of his client to protest a court decision to examine two separate lawsuits simultaneously.
“Entering the courtroom, we were surprised that the tribunal would hear both customs and security lawsuits filed separately against Islam Salih, although he was declared to show up today for the hearing into the customs case only,” Mr Jizouli told AFP.
He said he withdrew after the judge, Omar al-Amin, turned down a request to postpone the hearing so that the defence council in the suit filed by the security authority could attend.
“I am defending Salih in the customs case and I cannot represent the defence council in the other case,” Mr Jizouli said, adding that, after his withdrawal, the court also rejected a request for adjournment by Mr Salih who asked for an opportunity to bring his defence council.
“This is a denial of the defendant’s right of having defence,” the lawyer said.
The lawyer said he would submit a complaint to the head of Khartoum State Judiciary against the judge, demanding a halt of the trial procedures and the naming of a replacement judge.
The defendant, Mr Salih, told AFP that the tribunal, which deals in customs cases only, heard prosecution statements by three customs officers and the legal adviser of the security authority, but they were not cross-examined because of the absence of a defence lawyer.
He said the charges being levelled against him are defamation of the state, the circulation of false news and the prevention of a government official from carrying out his duties.
The latter charge concerns the customs department.
After hearing the prosecution testimonies, the tribunal announced it would meet again next Thursday to hear the defence witnesses, he said.
Mr Salih said he was determined to exercise his right to bring in the whole defence council, chaired by lawyer Ali Mahmoud Hassanain, who is also a leading official of the opposition Democratic Unionist Party.
Launched in 1996, the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera channel has irritated several Arab governments, including Saudi Arabia, and led to the closure of several of its bureaus in Arab countries in recent years.