The Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) summoned on Wednesday in Khartoum editors-in-chief of different newspapers demanding them to cooperate with the government during the current “economic crisis” or have their papers shut down.
Journalist Mahjoub Mohamed Salih, editor-in-chief of El Ayam daily paper, told Radio Dabanga he refuses to cooperate with the NISS and announced during Wednesday’s meeting he would close down his media house and stop publishing from Thursday onwards.
Salih, the 2005-winner of the Golden Pen Freedom Award for press freedom, informed his journalists about what happened and his decision to cease publishing. He confirmed that all of them endorsed his choice.
Another reporter who attended the meeting with NISS told Radio Dabanga the Sudanese authorities demanded journalists to support mitigating the crisis, as well as the protests taking place across the country.
The Sudanese Journalist Network (SJN), as a result, called upon all journalists in Sudan to stop working from 26 September onwards. In a statement, SJN also noted its “appreciation” for the position adopted by Salih, who for his part also called upon reporters to cease their activities.
Journalists arrested
The SJN strongly condemned the arrest and investigation of journalists by NISS. According to the Network, this includes Amir Hussein, correspondent in Wad Madani of the Khartoum-based newspaper Al Hurra, who was arrested by the security services.
Meanwhile, NISS is reportedly investigating the correspondent of Sky News channel in Khartoum Taari Al Tijani and the female news presenter of Al Masa TV Sulafa Abu Dafira. They were both approached by NISS which accuses them of “covering and commenting on the demonstrations organized across Sudan.”
Other reporters were also prevented from writing by the security services, the journalists network says. These include Shamail El Nur, Zuhair Al Sarraj of Al Jarida daily newspaper, and Osman Shabona from Al Ahram daily.
NISS is also said to have circulated a Style Book to all editors-in-chief ordering them to use the terms and phrases accordingly when writing articles about the removal of fuel subsidy and increasing prices.
The SJN condemned the “violation of professionalism and ethics” by NISS of the institution of press.
News photo: Demonstrators display placards at a barricade in Khartoum on Wednesday (hurriyatsudan.com)
Related: Sudan police shoot people to quell nationwide protest against rising fuel prices (25 September 2013)