Mohammed Taha, editor-in-chief of Sudanese newspaper Al-Wifaq, who wrote critical articles about Islam.
Taha was reportedly found beheaded Wednesday, September 6, in the Sudanese capital Khartoum just hours after he was abducted by unknown men. The killing is said to be related to controversial articles Taha wrote last year on the lineage of the Prophet Muhammad, said IFJ, which represents 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries.
The reported murder was also expected to add to anxiety among the country’s minority Christians, who comprise roughly 5% of Sudan’s population of over 41 million.
"We are horrified by this heinousness and we express our sympathy to Taha’s family and colleagues," said IFJ Africa Office Director Gabriel Baglo, in a statement obtained by BosNewsLife. "We urge the Sudanese government to make sure that they investigate this crime and bring the perpetrators to justice."
EDITOR SEIZED
IFJ said it learned that Taha left his office for home at midnight on Tuesday, September 5. "At about 12:30 am someone knocked on his door. When he opened the door, he was seized by men who forced him into a car and drove away," IFJ added.
"Mohamed Taha’s body was found beheaded on Wednesday on the main road of Khartoum," IFJ quoted an anonymous source in Khartoum as saying. The source allegedly added that some aspects of the murder signaled the involvement of Islamist groups.
"Taha was buried on Thursday at 10 am but I think he was too hurriedly buried because there should have been some examination of the body before," the source said.
CRITICAL ARTICLES
In May 2005, Taha was tried for blasphemy because of articles published in his newspapers raising doubts about the lineage of the Prophet Muhammad. The prosecution, some local extremist groups and "a huge crowd that demonstrated during the trial" sought the death penalty for Taha, recalled IFJ.
They reportedly claimed he had insulted The Prophet. At the conclusion of the trial, Taha was reportedly fined about $3,000 US and his newspaper was closed for three months. He also apologized in print media.
"The situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate," said IFJ Africa Director Baglo. “We renew our call on the President of Sudan, Omar El Bechir to release arbitrarily imprisoned journalists and to ensure that journalists can work freely in the country without any form of intimidation or harassment." (With BosNewsLifde Research and reports from Africa. This story is part of BosNewsLife efforts to extend its coverage on freedom of expression issues in countries of transition or suffering under dictatorships).
