Sudanese Journalists Slam Closure of Qatar-Based Channel’s Office
The work permit of reporter Mohamed Omar was withdrawn as well, the Arab satellite channel reported from Doha.
The Preparatory Committee for the Restoration of the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate described the closure of the office as “an extension of the practices of the coup authorities towards Sudanese journalists”.
In a press statement Saturday, the committee denounced the growing hostility toward journalists and correspondents covering mass demonstrations in the past couple of weeks, and pointed to attempts of regular forces riding in four-wheel drive vehicles to run over reporters covering demonstrations near the Republican Palace in central Khartoum last week.
It described the closure of the office as a violation of the 2009 Press and Press Publications Law, as the National Council for Press and Press Publications is responsible for licensing, regulating, and supervising the work of foreign news channels licensed in accordance with the law, and not the Ministry Information and Culture. “Therefore, Al Jazeera has the right to file an administrative appeal against this unlawful decision.”
The committee called on Sudanese journalists and others working in press and media institutions in the country “to take a unified position and coordinate professional solidarity efforts in defense of freedom of the press and the media, and their right to perform their work”.
Editor-in-chief of the independent daily El Jareeda newspaper, Ashraf Ibrahim, also condemned “the suppression of journalists doing their duty”.
He told Radio Dabanga that the freedom of the press is deteriorating rapidly, in particular after the General Intelligence Service (GIS) was given the authority to detain civilians during the State of Emergency, imposed after the coup d’état of October 25. He further ridiculed the apologies presented by the authorities “each time journalists have been assaulted”.
Source: dabangasudan.org
Most Commented 