SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Human Rights Watch - Sudan’s Army Threatens Activists, Journalists with Lawsuits

24/7/2020: Human Rights Watch - Sudan’s Army Threatens Activists, Journalists with Lawsuits

 Mohamed Osman, Assistant Researcher at Human Rights Watch, calls for Sudan’s leaders to demonstrate their commitment to the rights and freedoms enshrined in the constitutional declaration by “taking quick steps” to prevent state agents from using “problematic laws” to silence dissent.

 With the Sudanese Armed Forces’ threatening to sue individuals who “insult” them, Osman notes that an army spokesperson invoked the “troublesome” Cybercrimes Act - “an overly broad law” introduced in 2007 that “has been used by the former regime to target online critics.”

 Osman adds that the act criminalises the “vague” concept of the ‘spread of false news’ and publication of ‘indecent materials,’ with recent amendments increasing prison sentences.

 Osman also notes that the army threatens to use the Publication and Newspapers Act and “crimes against the state” provisions in the Criminal Act of 1991, which “were often used by the former regime to harass real or perceived opponents.”