Reporters Without Borders has urged Egypt to halt the deportation of four Sudanese journalists arrested in September. They are currently detained in a refugee center, facing danger if returned to Sudan due to ongoing conflict. The journalists possess UN asylum cards but have struggled with bureaucratic challenges regarding their status. Their lawyer and advocacy groups express concern over the lack of coordination between the UNHCR and Egyptian authorities, emphasizing the urgent need for their protection and release.
Reporters Without Borders, an international organization dedicated to journalism and press freedom, has urged the Egyptian authorities to cease the impending deportation of four Sudanese journalists currently detained in a refugee center in Aswan, near the Sudanese border. These journalists, who were arrested on September 23 while interviewing a human rights defender for a Sudanese television channel, are at risk of severe reprisals if returned to their perilous home country. The organization emphasizes the dangerous landscape for journalists in Sudan, highlighting that repatriating these individuals would jeopardize their safety due to the ongoing armed conflict and political turmoil. The journalists possess temporary asylum seeker registration cards from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), having fled Sudan due to the violence and abuses perpetrated by both sides of the conflict. Their legal representation has encountered numerous bureaucratic challenges since their arrest, oscillating between the threat of deportation and the hope for safety in another nation, like Uganda. However, on October 22, this hope diminished significantly when they were transferred to a military prison, thus accelerating their potential deportation by land. Lawyer Iqbal Ahmed Ali expressed concerns about a lack of coordination between the UNHCR and Egyptian authorities, stating, “The persistence of the concerned parties acting against these journalists is surprising.” Jonathan Dagher, the Head of the Middle East Desk at Reporters Without Borders, reiterated the necessity for the Egyptian government to allow these journalists to remain in safety, denouncing any violations of their rights. Furthermore, it is noted that Egypt ranks significantly low in press freedom, placed 170th out of 180 countries in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, while Sudan stands at 149th, condemning both nations to a dismal status regarding media independence. Rashid Saeed from Radio Dabanga highlighted the tragic state of the media landscape in Sudan, underscoring the violence against journalists and the destruction of media infrastructure since the conflict’s escalation in April 2023.
The situation concerning the four Sudanese journalists detained in Egypt arises from the broader context of a deteriorating environment for press freedom in Sudan, exacerbated by ongoing conflict. The Sudan Armed Forces are engaged in violent clashes with the Rapid Support Forces, resulting in increasing threats to journalists’ safety in the region. Reporters Without Borders acts as a critical observer and advocate in instances where journalists are at risk, particularly in regions marked by oppression and warfare. The organization’s statements shed light on the plight of these journalists, emphasizing the potential repercussions they would face should they be forcibly returned to Sudan.
In conclusion, the call from Reporters Without Borders to the Egyptian government reflects a significant concern regarding the treatment of journalists at risk. The expulsion of the four Sudanese journalists, who face imminent danger if returned to Sudan, poses a serious violation of their rights and highlights the precarious state of press freedom in both Egypt and Sudan. Advocacy for their safety and protection is paramount and underscores the urgent need for international attention to the dire circumstances for journalists in conflict zones.
Original Source: www.dabangasudan.org
