(RSF/IFEX) – In an 18 August 1999 letter to General al-Bashir, RSF protested the one-week suspension of the independent daily “Al-Raï Al-Akhar”. RSF stated that “this is the fifth time that a suspension of the newspaper has been ordered since the beginning of the year.” On 11 January, it was suspended for two days, on […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In an 18 August 1999 letter to General al-Bashir, RSF protested
the one-week suspension of the independent daily “Al-Raï Al-Akhar”. RSF
stated that “this is the fifth time that a suspension of the newspaper has
been ordered since the beginning of the year.” On 11 January, it was
suspended for two days, on 22 June, for another two days, on 5 July, for
five days, and on 26 July, for two days.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 28 July and 6 July 1999**
RSF urged General al-Bashir to “ensure that the newspaper may resume
publication without any further restraint.” The organisation stated that
“banning a newspaper is a clear attempt to suppress diversity of opinion and
a blatant violation of the right to freedom of expression.”
Robert Ménard, RSF’s secretary-general, expressed “deep concern over the
situation of the press in Sudan” and assured “Al-Raï Al-Akhar” of “RSF’s
solidarity and support.”
On 17 August, the National Press Council ordered the daily to be suspended
because of articles critical of governmental policy.
