Sudan's security authorities confiscate three political newspapers
Xinhua, November 6, 2016 Adjust font size:
he Sudanese security authorities on Sunday confiscated three Sudanese political newspapers and prevented distribution of their printed copies, according to the Sudanese Journalists Network.
"Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) has confiscated copies of Al-Jareeda, Al-Tayyar and Al-Watan daily newspapers without giving reasons," said a statement Sunday by the Sudanese Journalists Network, a non-governmental organization.
"The network condemns continuation of confiscation of newspapers and pursuing of journalists, and denounces, in the strongest possible terms, the spread of security intervention and imposition of its influence inside the press institution," the statement said.
The network noted that the confiscation came following the increase in the fuel prices, urging the journalists and human rights advocates to unite to protect the freedom of expression.
In the meantime, Osman Merghani, the editor-in-chief of Al-Tayyar, expressed surprise over the security move.
"The paper's today copy did not include any materials violating the law or materials that necessitate confiscation," Merghani told Xinhua.
"We thought that after Oct. 10 and the approval of the national dialogue document, all freedoms would be availed, but nothing has changed. Confiscation of newspapers, before and after printing, continued which caused great loss for the press institutions," he noted.
No comment has been released by the Sudanese security authorities about the reasons behind confiscation of the three newspapers yet.
Sudan government announced on Thursday a package of economic decisions with increase in fuel and electricity prices with the aim to curb up the rise in inflation rates and stop decline of national currency.
The Sudanese newspapers have been complaining about security measures such as confiscation and suspension, while the security authorities accuse some newspapers of crossing the red lines and publishing news that affect the country's national security. Endit