In a report by ``Al-Hurra``: Suffering of Journalists by warring parties
Moatinoon
Walid Al-Noor, the Secretary of Social Affairs in the Journalists Syndicate, called on both parties of the war in Sudan to enable journalists to fulfill their role in covering the horrors of the war and its disasters. He pointed out that the Sudanese war has become forgotten, making it necessary to allow journalists to cover it professionally and without restrictions.
A report published by Al-Hurra highlighted that journalists in Sudan have been subjected to arrests, kidnappings, and demands for ransom for their release. The latest violation against journalists was the kidnapping of journalist Aladdin Abu Harba by an armed group from his home in the East Nile area of Khartoum, which is under the control of the Rapid Support Forces.
A statement from the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate described the kidnapping as a "dangerous development," noting that the armed group demanded a ransom of one million Sudanese pounds for his release or threatened to kill him if the amount was not paid.
The statement mentioned that the kidnappers received the requested amount, but instead of releasing Abu Harba, they doubled the ransom to two million pounds, "putting his life in imminent danger at any moment."
Al-Noor told Al-Hurra that "what happened to Abu Harba is a bad and unacceptable act that endangers his life, especially after the kidnappers refused to release him as they had promised."
He also noted that the ransom demanded by the kidnappers is beyond the means of both his immediate and extended family, particularly given the harsh conditions millions of Sudanese are living under, having lost their sources of income.
Journalists in Sudan are facing harsh conditions during the ongoing war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. Local and international organizations have called on the warring parties to enable journalists to carry out their professional duties and not expose them to danger.
A number of journalists have been subjected to attacks and violations by elements affiliated with the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in various Sudanese cities, including cities that are not witnessing any military confrontations, according to human rights organizations.
Six Sudanese journalists have lost their lives during the war. The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate confirmed the deaths of journalist Samahir Abdel Shafi, journalist Halima Idris, journalist Issam Hassan Murjan, journalist Issam Al-Haj, journalist Ahmed Youssef Arabi, and journalist Khaled Bellal during the current conflict.
