Sudanese security arrests female journalist for reporting on water pollution

September 11, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese non-governmental Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) network has denounced the arrest of a female journalist by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) for publishing a report on water pollution.

In a statement on Friday, JHR said that a force from the NISS comprised of four vehicles has arrested Hiba Abdel-Azeem who works for Al-Sudani daily newspaper on Thursday, pointing she was taken to a premises near Al-Qurashi Park south of Khartoum.

The statement said that NISS lured Abdel-Azeem to come to a certain place for a journalistic purpose using a mobile phone of one of her acquaintance, pointing she was detained as soon as she arrived there by a NISS force.

According to JHR, she was interrogated from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. (local time) on Thursday about a press report she published on September 2 nd about the pollution of the White Nile waters which was caused by the drainage system of a military facility in Khartoum state.

Journalists in Sudan are routinely subject to harassment, as well as arbitrary arrest, detention and interrogation, often without any explanation being given.

Observer say the security service can sue journalists for any false or inaccurate information instead of arresting them.

They further regret that Sudan’s 2010 national security law grants the NISS complete immunity.

Sudan ranked 174th out of 180 countries in the 2015 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.

(ST)