Sudanese security confiscates Al-Gareeda newspaper for the fifth time

May 16, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) has seized copies of Al-Gareeda newspaper on Monday for the fifth time from the printing house without stating reasons.

On Friday, the Sudanese independent daily decided to go on strike for two consecutive days and resume publishing on Monday to protest against a security campaign confiscating copies of the newspaper four times during five days.

The security seizure of the print runs has inflicted a financial a loss of 90,000 Sudanese pounds (SDG) (about $6,600) on the newspaper.

Journalists working for Al-Gareeda said the confiscation of the copies on Monday was likely a retaliatory move by the NISS against the newspaper’s decision not to publish for two days.

They told Sudan Tribune that the “government perceives Al-Gareeda as an opposition forum that must either be domesticated or intimidated through repetitive confiscations”.

Last Saturday, Al-Gareeda said its editorial policies are fully respectful to the state’s institutions, urging the harmed party to resort to the law and leave the press institutions independent and well respected.

The same journalists said they would meet with the newspaper’s administration late on Monday to discuss the next move.

The NISS usually punishes newspapers accused of crossing the red lines retroactively by confiscating copies after they were printed to ensure severe financial losses.

(ST)