Sudan confiscates independent  newspaper

Sudan confiscates independent  newspaper

Sudanese security forces have confiscated the entire edition of an independent newspaper in the capital Khartoum.

The editor of the newspaper, Adil al-Baz described the incidence as a sign of media crackdown.

Sudan's constitution guarantees press freedom but journalists often complain of pressure and censorship.

Media crackdown

Last month, two female journalists were jailed for writing about an alleged rape case.

The owner of daily independent newspaper, al-Ahdath and the editor Adil al-Baz said:"Security forces have confiscated all copies on Saturday after we printed them, and the newspaper had not been given a reason for the confiscation.’’

The newspaper had planned to run an interview with a senior official of the northern branch of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), the ruling party in newly-independent South Sudan. It also reported about corruption and terrorism issues.

Sudan's security forces were not immediately available to comment on the confiscation, a move which would inflict substantial financial damage on the publication.

The jailing of the two female journalists for writing about the alleged rape of an activist by security forces has sparked condemnation by the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Margot Wallstroem.

"I am very concerned about these judgments regardless of the case, Sudanese journalists have a right to report on rape and other forms of sexual violence," Wallstroem said in a statement on August 3.

Reuters/Sussan/Williams