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Sudanese Syndicate slams decision to suspend journalist Lina Yaqoub

Moatinoon
The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate condemned the decision issued by the Ministry of Culture, Information, and Tourism to suspend journalist Lina Yaqoub, the bureau chief of Al Arabiya and Al Hadath channels in Sudan, and to revoke her press license.

It demanded the immediate and unconditional reversal of the suspension and revocation of the license, and to distinguish between professional errors that are subject to accountability through clear legal channels and the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and information.

In a statement issued today, the Syndicate emphasized that this decision constitutes a serious setback for press freedom and undermines societys right to access information, especially in light of the exceptional circumstances facing Sudan. It stated that it sets a disturbing precedent for the use of vague terms such as "national security" and "public interest" to justify restrictions on independent journalistic work, which contravenes international standards on freedom of expression.

The union stated that the ministrys official statement, in most of its context, did not provide concrete evidence or clear examples of the alleged violations, opening the door to broad interpretations that threaten the work of journalists. The timing of the decision, coinciding with an organized campaign targeting the journalist on social media platforms, also raises serious questions about its true motives and the independence of the administrative decision.

The government statement stated that it had monitored repeated professional violations by the office manager of Al Arabiya and Al Hadath channels, including "broadcasting unverified information and publishing stories attributed to anonymous sources, without consulting official authorities or adhering to journalistic verification standards. This misled local and international public opinion and harmed the reputation of the state and its institutions, in addition to blatant violations of internationally agreed-upon professional standards."

The ministry clarified that the decision directly concerns the journalist and does not target Al Hadath and Al Arabiya as media outlets licensed to operate in Sudan.

The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate warned that such measures fuel an environment of hostility toward journalists, which has escalated significantly since the outbreak of the war. This creates a dangerous reality that threatens their safety and limits their ability to perform their vital role in monitoring and documenting events.

It called on all regional and international organizations committed to press freedom to stand in solidarity with our colleague Lina Yaqoub and support Sudanese journalists in pressuring them to reverse this decision and defend the Sudanese peoples right to a free and responsible media.