Sudanese security confiscates Akhir Lahza newspaper for the second time

April 24, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) on Sunday has confiscated copies of Akhir Lahza daily newspaper for the second time within 72 hours from the printing house without stating any reasons.

Since last week, the NISS has intensified its crackdown on the newspaper and confiscated copies of Al-Taghyeer and Al-Saiha newspapers for two days in a row.
On Friday, NISS also seized copies of Akhir Lahza from the printing house without giving reasons.

It is noteworthy that Akhir Lahza newspaper is owned by the prominent member of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and former governor of South Darfur state Al-Hag Atta al-Manan.

According to the non-governmental Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) network, two NISS agents came to the Karrari printing press at 1:00 am (local time) on Sunday and seized the whole print runs.

JHR described the confiscation of the print runs as “punitive and disciplinary security measure” against the newspapers for publishing unwanted reports, saying it is aimed at inflicting political, economic and moral losses on the newspapers and to force them to exercise self-censorship.

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.

NISS usually accuses the newspapers of crossing the red lines through publishing reports which adversely impact the national security.

(ST)