Sudan bans demonstrations over anti-Islam cartoons

September 21, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese Islamist and student groups cancelled a protest against anti-Islam cartoons they were calling for in Khartoum after failing to obtain the necessary authorisation from the police.

Last Friday two people were killed and 50 policemen wounded outside the American embassy in Khartoum during a violent protest over an anti-Islam film. The same day, protesters also stormed the German embassy and wrecked some offices of the diplomatic building.

Reliable sources told Sudan Tribune that security services refused to authorise the organisers to hold a demonstration to the French embassy in Khartoum to protest against new anti-Islam cartoons published by a French weekly satirical newspaper.

However, the police did not issue an official statement on the ban.

The protest was supposed to start from the mosque of Khartoum unity to the French embassy where security forces were deployed and the adjacent streets were closed on Friday.

A number of journalists were at the French Embassy in Khartoum where they noticed the heavy presence of antiriot police officers.

The French government condemned the publication of satirical caricatures and termed it as “irresponsible” and announced the closure of its embassies, cultural centres and French schools in 20 Muslim countries to avoid attacks by extremist groups.

(ST)