Sudan appeals court to review case of Al-Jazeera correspondent

By MOHAMED OSMAN Associated Press Writer

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Mar 08, 2004 (AP) — Sudan’s highest court of appeals has agreed to review the case of an Al-Jazeera reporter facing charges of diffusing false information and of tax evasion after his lawyer filed an appeal saying his client might not receive a fair trial.

Islam Salih, Al-Jazeera bureau chief in Khartoum, was briefly detained in December and suspended from work. The offices of the popular Arab satellite channel were shut down.

“We have appealed to the higher court because we believe that all the measures taken, be it inside the court, or before that, are not legally based,” Abdul Salaam Al-Gizouli, the legal adviser for Al-Jazeera, told The Associated Press. “My client was not accorded the chance to prepare his defense.”

The appeals court will review the case on Saturday to rule on whether Salih can receive a fair trial in the assigned court.

Sudanese security authorities have accused the channel of airing programs “filled with lies, weak analysis, biased reporting and selected pictures to serve” its interests (its interests).”

Al-Jazeera was also accused of failing to pay due taxes.

However, Al-Gizouli showed AP copies of documents showing the channel paid all taxes and followed the necessary legal steps.

The Khartoum North court is trying the two cases together.

Al-Gizouli said he believed the whole issue was related to freedom of expression.

“Even before the trial has begun the office was closed. And even before this, my client received repeated warnings from certain security individuals,” Al-Gizouli complained.

“We believe the main reason behind all this is to stop the channel from reporting from Khartoum. We dont see any other legal ground,” Al-Gizouli said.

The attorney said he believed that the appeals court would ensure justice for his client, possibly by appointing a new judge to handle the case or issuing a verdict of innocence for his client.