Sudanese Security prevents opposition group from holding meeting on Turkey coup d’état

July 25, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) on Monday banned a symposium organized by the opposition Reform Now Movement (RNM) led by Ghazi al-Attabani on the attempted military coup in Turkey.

On 15 July 2016, a putsch was attempted in Turkey against the government but ultimately failed. The attempt was performed by a faction within the Turkish Armed Forces that was organized under a council called the Peace at Home Council.

Reform Now Movement spokesperson, Osama Tawfeeg, told Sudan Tribune that the symposium was organized in one of the hotels in Khartoum by Al Gaser Media Center under the title “Turkey after the failed military coup” but NISS cancelled it saying it was held without the needed permission.

“This is quite strange as activities organized in hotels do not need permission,” said Tawfeeg pointing that the Turkish Ambassador to Khartoum Cemalettin Aydan and other interested people were invited to attend the symposium.

Tawfeeg further stressed that despite their contacts with senior security officers, the security agents did not allow the solidarity event with the constitutional government in Ankara.

He accused the that security agents of abusing authority, pointing that the incident might affect relation with Turkey.

“If NISS restricts freedom of expression without a political guidance this is a disaster, and if the ban is a political one then the situation is even worse,” said Tawfeeg in statement to media stressing that banning the symposium would have a negative impact on the national dialogue.

On the same day, the Sudanese authorities allowed a pro-ruling party organization, National Media Production Center, to organize a debate on the same topic. The group also invited Turkish ambassador to Khartoum .

According to the official Sudan News Agency the symposium is titled “Turkey between conspiracy and people’s will”. The head of Al Jazeera TV office in Khartoum, al-Moslami Khabashi, and a political science professor Suhair Ahmed spoke at the event besides the Turkish envoy.

Sudan’s President Omer al-Bashir denounced the aborted military coup in Turkey and expressed support to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

(ST)