A Sudanese journalist was handed a one-month jail sentence for “publishing false reports” about a rape of a woman in February. Fatma Ghazali was given bail for $670 or prison and the journalist was imprisoned. It was unclear if she chose the jailing for lack of funds. Ghazali, who works for an independent daily newspaper in Sudan was sued by the head of the state security and her Editor-in-chief was also fined $1500. The report in question was about a Sudanese woman who participated in an opposition protest in January of this year. The woman claimed that she was arrested and raped after participating in the protest. It was reported that the government denied that the woman was arrested in the first place. The government has sued another 7 journalists, who await their verdict following their reporting on the same protest. The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), a free speech NGO based in Cairo, has condemned the verdict, saying “it is unacceptable to charge a journalist for doing his or her job. “Freedom of press in Sudan is unstable and the security forces target journalists and the judiciary system [has] become a tool against them.” The rights organization called on international and regional bodies to pressure the Sudanese government “to ensure freedom of press and media.” BM
