Sudanese Students barred from participating in UAE’s Arabic reading competition
October 26, 2023 (PORT SUDAN) – Thirteen Sudanese students have been prevented from travelling to the United Arab Emirates to partake in the Arabic Reading Challenge, allegedly due to political reasons.
These students were originally set to depart for the UAE on Thursday, October 27, but were informed at the eleventh hour that their travel had been prohibited by the Council of Ministers.
The Red Sea Governor, Fathallah Al-Haj Ahmed, and officials from the Foreign Ministry have stated that they are unaware of the rationale behind this ban.
One of the affected students, Lamis Mohamed Ahmad Al-Batoul, revealed to Sudan Tribune that they had received honours from the Red Sea Governor and the Ministers of Interior and State Education prior to their planned departure. All the necessary travel procedures had been completed.
However, they were subsequently notified by the coordination representative handling Sudan-UAE affairs that the Council of Ministers had imposed a political ban on their travel.
Al-Batoul explained that the students sought clarification from the relevant authorities, only to be informed that the governor was absent in the state and the Minister of Interior was out of the country. Minister of Education, Mahmoud Sir Al-Khatam Al-Houri, conveyed that the decision to withdraw from the competition was irreversible.
The Arab Reading Challenge, initiated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in 2015, aims to encourage a million young people to read at least 50 books within a year. Its popularity has grown consistently, with 22.5 million children from 44 countries participating last year.
Sudan Tribune has gathered that the UAE has requested the Sudanese government to explain their withdrawal from the competition.
Sami Al-Baqir, the spokesman for the Sudanese Teachers Committee, has strongly criticized this decision, describing it as “incorrect” and “indicative of a significant governmental lapse.” He has called upon the Minister of Education to promptly reverse this decision.
Media reports have alleged that the UAE supports the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group engaged in conflict with the Sudanese army since mid-April. However, the Sudanese government has not officially made any accusations against the Gulf state.
(ST)