Sudanese Journalists Syndicate Condemns Incitement Campaigns Against Journalists

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The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate has condemned the incitement campaigns targeting journalists on social media platforms, warning that such campaigns pose a serious threat to journalists safety, especially in a highly polarized environment marked by escalating hate speech amid Sudans exceptional circumstances.

The syndicate stated that the recent systematic campaign targeting journalist Murtada Ahmed has extended to four other journalists: Ahmed Khalil, Hossam Al-Din Haidar, Dhefaf Abdulrahman, and Abdulrahman Al-Ajeb. It noted that this campaign is the latest in a series of previous attacks against journalists such as Maha Al-Talib, Lina Yaqoub, Zamzam Khater, Muzdalfa Yousif, Sara Taj Al-Sir, and Muammar Ibrahim.

The syndicate confirmed that 32 female journalists have faced 77 documented cases of threats since the outbreak of the war. It called for an end to these incitement campaigns, which "not only threaten journalists safety but also undermine the right to access information and foster a climate of impunity."

The syndicates Freedoms Secretariat stated that these incitement campaigns aim to silence free voices and intimidate media professionals. It expressed regret that the source of such campaigns is often "individuals who are expected to uphold the ethics and values of the profession." The syndicate praised Sudanese journalists for their "exceptional courage and dedication in carrying out their mission despite immense risks, at a time when several media institutions—expected to provide accurate and objective information to the public at home and abroad—have been absent." It urged journalists to maintain solidarity, cohesion, and defend the values of their profession.

The Freedoms Secretariat called on all organizations advocating for press freedom and freedom of expression, as well as human rights organizations—foremost among them the Committee to Protect Journalists—to take urgent measures to ensure the safety and security of Sudanese journalists and to halt the systematic incitement campaigns that blatantly violate international conventions guaranteeing the protection of journalists during wars and armed conflicts.

Additionally, the syndicate held Sudanese authorities fully responsible for any threats or violations journalists may face as a result of these incitement campaigns.