Syndicate: No Immunity for Perpetrators of Crimes Against Sudanese journalists

Moatinoon
The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate affirmed its commitment to protecting and safeguarding the dignity and fundamental rights of journalists and condemned all forms of violence and intimidation aimed at muzzling and silencing the truth.

In a statement today, on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the union stressed the lack of immunity of persons and those involved in crimes against journalists, reiterating its unequivocal rejection of the crimes of murder and neck against journalists.

Since the outbreak of the war in Sudan on April 15, 2023, violations against journalists had escalated unprecedented, demanding that stakeholders, both internally and externally, assume their responsibilities to ensure that aggressors were held accountable and provide the necessary protection to press workers.

It called on the parties to the conflict to respect international law that guarantees the protection of journalists as civilians, and guarantees their security and safety in the performance of their media work.

The withholding of telecommunications and Internet services from conflict zones was inhumane, impeding journalists performance of their functions and preventing citizens from gaining access to information. It called for the restoration of these services as an inherent right, contributing to journalists safe access to and documentation of the facts.

The Syndicate documented violations faced by journalists during the war period, which recorded the killing of 13 journalists and two journalists, including two journalists. 11 journalists, including 3 women journalists, suffered physical attacks and injuries, as well as one case of sexual assault. There were also 30 journalists, including 10 women journalists, who faced gunfire and shelling, resulting in the death of 15 relatives and serious damage to their homes.

In addition, Syndicate documented (60) cases of abduction and enforced detention, including (9) female journalists, and (6) arbitrary reports impeding journalists work and restricting their movement. There have been 58 cases of personal threats, 26 against women journalists, as well as 27 cases of physical assault and looting of property, 3 against women journalists.