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Sudan: A new Press Law for more suppression
Cairo, June 10, 2009
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) stated today that the Sudanese parliament approval for the press draft law, which was widely opposed by the Sudanese journalists and the Civil Society inside and outside the Sudan, is a severe strike against press freedom in Sudan and is paving the way for more suppression and confiscation.
Despite the amendments done by the parliament on some articles that cancelled the imprisonment penalty against journalists, the remaining law articles are shackling and oppressing the journalists. The Press Council’s authority to fine newspapers and journalists for maximum SL 50000 (US$ 21000) has been cancelled as per the new law, but in the same time the authority has been given to judiciary with no maximum limits of fining.
The (ANHRI) said, “Newspaper confiscation was one of the Sudanese executive authority habits. The new law did not cancel such procedure but transmitted it to the Press Council which, as per the law, is given the authority to confiscate any newspaper for 3 days without judiciary approval.” “The 21-member council has 6 members appointed by the Sudanese president and this paves the way for more suppression”, added the (ANHRI).
The new law does not provide a mechanism of information handling between formal authorities and journalists. So, journalists have to depend on their own sources of information while being in an atmosphere in which information flow is restricted.
The (ANHRI) commented, “It is obvious that the sate will never give up practicing strict censorship against press and freedom of expression. According to the new law, the state has the right to impose restrictions on press for national security and public discipline considerations.”
The new law includes many elastically-interpreted articles concerning not to publish any piece of work that may “arise religious or racial sedition or may instigate war or violence”. The law also assures that newspapers must “respect and protect public discipline and religious values”.
The Sudan, whose domestic crises and conflicts threaten the Sudanese security and future, should adopt a press law that copes with international publishing standards and freedom of expression. This will never be achieved while the government and the parliament are ignoring the opinions of the concerned i.e. the Sudanese journalists themselves.
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