Reporters Without Borders has requested that Egypt cease the deportation of four Sudanese journalists detained in Aswan since September. These journalists have lawfully sought asylum and face severe threats if returned to Sudan. The organization stresses the importance of protecting these individuals, emphasizing the precariousness of press freedom in both Sudan and Egypt.
Reporters Without Borders, an organization dedicated to advocating for press freedom and the rights of journalists, has urgently appealed to the Egyptian authorities to suspend the impending deportation of four Sudanese journalists currently detained in Aswan. The individuals in question were arrested in September while conducting an interview for Sudan Bukra, a Sudanese television channel, with human rights defender Mohamed Hassan Bouchi, who has been living in exile in Egypt. These journalists possess temporary asylum seeker registration cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and had previously escaped the conflict-ridden environment in Sudan, where they faced significant threats and abuses from both conflicting factions. Since their detention, they have encountered complex legal and administrative hurdles, oscillating between the fear of deportation and the hope for refuge in a more stable nation such as Uganda. On October 22, however, this hope diminished when the journalists were moved to a military prison in Aswan, as stated by their legal representative, Iqbal Ahmed Ali. She expressed concern regarding the treatment of the journalists, hinting at a possible bias against their identities as journalists. “The persistence of the concerned parties acting against these journalists is surprising, to the point that we are beginning to fear that their status as journalists is being used against them,” Ali noted, highlighting a troubling lack of coordination between the UNHCR and Egyptian authorities. Jonathan Dagher, the Head of Reporters Without Borders Middle East Desk, passionately stated, “These four refugee journalists should not be detained or deported for doing their jobs: covering a war they can no longer document from their home country due to the imminent danger to their lives… Sending these media professionals back to Sudan would not only constitute a flagrant violation of their right to safety but would put them in grave danger… We call on the Egyptian authorities to halt the deportation procedure. These journalists must be released and their protection guaranteed.” As of 2024, Egypt ranks 170th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, while Sudan is positioned at 149th, reflecting an environment where press freedom is severely curtailed. During a recent panel discussion at the Free Press Live 2024 event in The Hague, Netherlands, Rashid Saeed, the Team Leader of Radio Dabanga, remarked on the dire situation for journalists in Sudan following the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, noting that 90 percent of media institutions have been destroyed and journalists have faced severe atrocities. “We can be independent, but we cannot be neutral, and our priority must be to bring a stop to the war in Sudan,” he asserted.
The situation of press freedom and the safety of journalists in Sudan has sharply deteriorated due to ongoing conflicts between the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Many journalists have fled the region or faced violent reprisals for their work, leading to a grave risk for those who continue to document the situation. Egypt’s role as a neighboring country of Sudan makes it a potential refuge for journalists seeking safety. However, the recent detentions of Sudanese journalists in Egypt underscore that despite being a haven, the country also struggles with protecting the rights of journalists.
In summary, the plight of the four detained Sudanese journalists in Egypt highlights critical issues surrounding press freedom and the rights of asylum seekers in conflict situations. Reporters Without Borders has called for their immediate release and protection, asserting that sending them back to Sudan would represent a dangerous violation of their rights. The continued challenges faced by journalists in both Sudan and Egypt emphasize the urgent need for international advocacy to uphold freedom of the press and ensure the safety of media professionals in perilous environments.
Original Source: www.dabangasudan.org
