Sudanese president frees jailed Czech journalist

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir pardoned Czech journalist Petr Jasek on Sunday after a Sudanese court sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment over espionage charges against Sudan.

"In honor of the historical ties between Sudan and the Czech Republic, President al-Bashir released the Czech journalist on Sunday," said Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour during a joint press conference with his Czech counterpart Lubomir Zaoralek who arrived in Khartoum on Sunday.

"The president has carefully considered bilateral relations between both countries, based on which the tolerant president issued this pardon. The Czech foreign minister will receive the journalist who will then be returning to his country today," declared Ghandour.

Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek expressed his "content" over the case's happy ending.

Zaoralek said his visit to Sudan is the start of a new page in bilateral ties between the two countries, remarking that during his talks with Sudanese officials, he reiterated his country's readiness to augment relations with Sudan in all sectors.

Last January, a Sudanese court sentenced Czech journalist Petr Jasek to a 20-year life sentence over espionage charges against Sudan.

Furthermore, it was discovered that Jasek disseminated reports through an American organisation antagonistic toward Sudan, implying that Sudan allegedly persecuted Christians in Sudan and attacked civilian areas in South Kordofan State's Nuba Mountains.

In October 2015, Sudanese authorities arrested the Czech journalist four days after his entry into the country. Endit