(NDIMA/IFEX) – According to NDIMA, on 27 March 1998, armed men abducted Alim Ismail Atabani, publisher and chairman of the Board of Directors of “Al-Rai al-Aam”, a private Sudanese newspaper. The men offered Atabani a lift as he was walking to the mosque, but when he got into the car a pistol was put to […]
(NDIMA/IFEX) – According to NDIMA, on 27 March 1998, armed men abducted Alim
Ismail Atabani, publisher and chairman of the Board of Directors of “Al-Rai
al-Aam”, a private Sudanese newspaper.
The men offered Atabani a lift as he was walking to the mosque, but when he
got into the car a pistol was put to his neck and he was threatened and
insulted. The armed men warned Atabani that they would burn his newspapers’
offices and press if more articles on “mafia” usury were printed.
“Al-Rai al-Aam” had earlier reported that several farmers and
businessmen had been jailed for failing to repay loans at exorbitant rates of
interest to money-lenders and had called for a campaign against usury.
Atabani has filed a complaint with security officials, who have begun an
investigation.
Chief editor Abdallah Obeid also notified the Press and Publications Council
and the Sudanese Journalists Union of the brief abduction and threat.
