Sudanese newspapers receive go ahead to challenge confiscation through courts

March 2, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s chief justice expressed his opinion that newspapers can sue any government agency stopping it from printing or confiscating its print runs and stressed that the law empowered newspapers to take this route.

Sudanese newspapers frequently complain of fierce clampdown carried out by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) that include confiscation, suspension and pre-publication censorship.

But authorities assert that some newspapers breach “red lines” by publishing news that harm the country’s national security.

Last month, NISS seized entire print runs of 14 newspapers in one day without stating reasons.

The head of Sudanese judiciary Haidar Ahmed Dafalla said in press statements on Sunday that the country’s judiciary is independent administratively and financially and is known for fairness and justice.

He stressed that it is the only body that applies the law without pressure or restrictions or interference from anyone.

Last week, Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir defended the tight control of newspapers saying that when media houses publish false information that creates mistrust between people and government, authorities must invoke the law.

Sudan’s constitution guarantees freedom of expression but laws subordinate to the constitution such as the National Security Forces Act of 2010 contains articles that can be potentially used to curtail press freedom and instigate legal proceedings against newspapers and individual journalists.

Sudanese journalists work under tight daily censorship controls exercised by the NISS.

Journalists say that confiscation and suspension of newspapers is a commonly used practice by the local authorities to overburden the newspapers with financial losses alongside other non-financial pressures.

(ST)