Sudanese security seizes print runs of Al-Taghyeer newspaper
April 12, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) seized copies of Al-Taghyeer newspaper in the early hours of Tuesday from the printing house without giving reasons.
An editorial board member at Al-Taghyeer told Sudan Tribune that the confiscation was likely motivated by the publishing of an article written by the prominent rights activist Amin Mekki Madani about the International Criminal Court (ICC).
He said the NISS summoned the Chief Editor Sumai Sayed last Sunday and questioned her about the ICC article.
NISS doesn’t tolerate publishing of materials related to the ICC which has two outstanding arrest warrants against President Omer al-Bashir since 2009 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Darfur conflict.
It is noteworthy that Al-Taghyeer is owned by the famous Islamist and health minister of Khartoum state Mamoun Humaida.
The NISS routinely confiscates newspapers either to prevent circulation of certain stories or to punish them retroactively on previous issues.
In February 2015, NISS seized entire print runs of 14 newspapers in one day without stating the reasons for its decision.
Journalists say that NISS uses seizures of print copies of newspapers, not only to censor the media but also to weaken them economically.
(ST)