Sudan press council accuses security service of interference
April 8, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s government-run press council has accused state security services of interfering in its work, issuing an ultimatum to authorities to disband the media body or allow it to fulfil its proper functions.
The council, which licenses newspapers and registers journalists, made the highly unusual call after the powerful National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) suspended the editor-in-chief of respected Arabic-language daily Al-Sahafa.
“The council views what happened as direct intervention by the security service,” the media body said in a statement quoted by AFP, also citing censorship and suspension of newspapers by the NISS.
“The council sees all this as against its role and its duty to monitor press work in the country”.
In a surprisingly strong stance, the council said it planned to send a memorandum to Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir asking authorities to let it carry out its duty “or end the job of the press council”, AFP reported.
Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) ordered Al-Nur Mohamed Al-Nur to resign his position from Al-Sahafa on 3 April, threatening to confiscate copies of the paper unless management complied with the directive. Authorities also ordered that his name be removed from the paper’s masthead.
On the same day, Al Jazeera’s bureau chief in Khartoum Al-Masalami Kabbashi and photographer Ali Mustapha were also summoned by the NISS for questioning, after being accused of unbalanced coverage and reporting “false information.”
Security authorities gave no reason for Al-Nur’s suspension, but it’s believed the newspaper had come under increasing pressure not to publish articles critical of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) or the government.
Media organisations in Sudan say the NISS imposes strict controls, routinely ordering them not to report on certain subjects, while news reports and articles are also regularly censored prior to publication or broadcast.
Security agents continue to suspend and confiscate newspapers by way of retaliation if media report on issues considered sensitive.
Press freedom groups say they are appalled by the actions of Sudan’s security services, saying repressive policies against the country’s media are intensifying.
Ranked 170 out of 179 countries in the 2013 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index, Sudan is accordingly classified among the world’s 10 worst countries in regards to respect for freedom of information.
(ST)