Sudan withdraws licence of Al Jazeera Mubasher | Al Jazeera News

Sudanese authorities say the decision was taken following the channel’s ‘violation of the terms’ of licensing.

Sudanese authorities have withdrawn the broadcast licence of Al Jazeera Mubasher, the channel has said.

In a statement on Sunday, the Qatar-based media network said authorities also revoked the accreditation of two of its journalists in the country.

“Al Jazeera condemns the interference with its duty to convey fair and objective coverage of events in the country and to allow its journalists to operate unhindered and to practise their profession,” it said.

“The Network views this as an attack on press freedom as a whole and calls on international human rights and media organisations to condemn this infringement of journalists’ safety.”

Sudan’s ministry of culture and information said in a statement on Saturday that the decision was taken in response to the channel’s “unprofessional conduct”.

It said the channel’s coverage took aim at the “social fabric of the country by airing content contrary to the ethics of the profession and the mores and customs of Sudanese people”.

“[This] has harmed the country’s highest interests and its national security … It indicates a violation of the terms under which a license was granted.”