February 27, 2009 (KHARTOUM) —A British journalist is reportedly arrested by the Sudanese security and his whereabouts are unknown.
Zuhair Latif was arrested by the security services in his house on Friday after confiscating his computer hard drive, documents and tapes, the Associated Press reported today.
Early this month, Canada’s Foreign Ministry condemned the expulsion of a Canadian-Egyptian journalist, Heba Aly, just days after she made an inquiry about domestic arms production. The Journalist told Sudan Tribune she had been detained before her forced departure.
"This expulsion, along with the harassment suffered by Sudanese journalists, reveals that the international community must continue to monitor Sudan’s commitment to respect human rights," the spokesperson of the ministry said.
There are no details about the detention of Latif who is also Tunisian origin. He worked for a French television and other Arabic media.
While freedom of press is guaranteed under Sudan’s constitution, some journalists say they face daily censorship and harassment; Sudanese authorities last November arrested over 70 journalists who demonstrated outside the national parliament to protest against press censorship.