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Osman Mirghani, editor-in-chief of Al-Tayar, photographed in 2014 after being severely beaten during a raid on the newspaper's premises. By Ebrahim Hamid, Ebrahim Hamid (AFP / File)
Sudanese security forces on Friday freed a prominent editor who had been arrested for weeks for criticizing the state of emergency imposed by President Omar al – Bashir, his son told reporters. ; AFP.
Osman Mirghani, editor-in-chief of the independent daily Al-Tayar, was taken from his office by security agents on the night of February 22, after commenting on Bashir's decision to impose a drug regime. Emergency at the national level.
Bashir announced the measure after a first crackdown failed to quell the widespread protests against his administration that erupted in December.
"My father was released and he is in good health, we are now going home," his son Jihad Mirghani told AFP.
Mirghani was arrested after an interview with Sky News Arabia in which he said Bashir's measures "would trigger a new wave" of protests and send a message that the public "can exert more pressure to achieve its goal of dismantling this. diet".
This American engineer turned journalist was often targeted by security agents. He was arrested several times, confiscated copies of his newspaper or banned publication without giving reasons.
The release of Mirghani follows a journalists' demonstration on Monday in the capital, Khartoum, where they expressed solidarity with the editor and called for greater freedom of expression.
The powerful Sudanese National Security and Intelligence Service (NISS) routinely captures entire newspapers for articles deemed inappropriate, especially those critical of government authorities or policies.
Sudan ranks 174th out of 180 countries according to the Reporters Without Borders 2018 Press Freedom Index.
The first demonstrations took place on December 19, after the government's decision to triple the price of bread. They quickly degenerated into a widespread campaign calling for Bashir's resignation.
According to officials, 31 people died in violence related to the protests, while Human Rights Watch said that at least 51 people were killed.
Bashir, who came to power in 1989 in favor of a state coup supported by Islamists, has remained provocative in the face of unrest.
He announced a series of harsh measures as well as the state of emergency to quell demonstrations, including the ban on unauthorized gatherings and the establishment of special courts to investigate violations of news rules.
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