Filmmaker's trial raises concerns over freedom in new Sudan

More than a year after overthrow of Sudanese strongman Omar al-Bashir, amid promise of new leership, Sudanese film director Hajooj Kuka was arrested during a ater workshop by security forces that h served al-Bashir for years. He was tried and sentenced to prison on vague charges often used by former government to enforce its conservative interpretation of religion.

jarring episode, including alleged beatings by guards, rattled Kuka and or artists and activists, who say that country has a long way to go before it can overcome legacy of three deces of autocratic rule under al-Bashir.

Although a higher court overturned ruling and released Kuka earlier this month, case has raised concerns about personal freedoms in Sudan. country has been ruled by a joint civilian-military government for 14 months, after a popular uprising led to military’s ouster of al-Bashir in April 2019 and put country on a fragile path to democracy.

“While se rules exist, we will never have a freedom of expression,” Kuka said.

Kuka, who is a member of film acemy that awards Oscars, was one of a group of young artists taking part in a three-day ater workshop in August when neighbors complained about ise, and fact that women and men were mixing at event. organizers responded by lowering volume, but dispute escalated.

One of neighbors physically assaulted Duaa Tarig, an artist and office manr for Civic Lab, organization hosting workshop. Or neighbors beat and threw stones at participants and staff. Dozens were trapped for a couple of hours before police arrived.

When y did, y took 11 artists, including Kuka and Tarig, along with several neighbors, to a police station. neighbors were quickly released, according to both artists.

artists, however, were tried and sentenced in mid-September to two months in prison on charges of public disturbance and violating public safety measures amid pandemic.

“ circumstances of case including charges combined with police abuse and sentences against artists highlight continuation of infringement on basic rights,” said Mohammed Osman, Sudan researcher at Human Rights Watch.

Sudan's Justice Ministry did t immediately respond to requests for comment, or than refer to a previously released statement that it is working to reform country’s legal system in order to “establish a state of law.” A government spokesman did t return numerous phone calls.

After Kuka and his fellow artists were arrested, y said y were beaten and intimidated. When Tarig lost consciousness after allegedly being hit by a police officer, or arrested artists started to chant slogans y used in last year’s anti-government protests.

That seemed to only anger security officers more, who n decided to press charges against m, artists and ir lawyer Othman al-Basry said.

More than a year after al-Bashir’s ouster, laws that empower Sudan's security state have t changed, Kuka said.

Promises for reform have often run up against an alliance between Islamist officials and security forces that was forged to underpin al-Bashir’s rule and has outlasted his overthrow. According to Strategic Initiative for Women in Horn of Africa, a rights group, Sudanese judiciary system continues to be influenced by what group described as militant Islamist ideology of former leership.

transitional government has taken some steps to eliminate several al-Bashir-era laws. In vember, it overturned Public Order Act, a Shariah-inspired law that criminalized a wide range of individual behavior including revealing clothing and drinking alcohol. It also passed a set of sweeping amendments to country’s criminal code, including one that criminalized widespre practice of female genital mutilation, and abolished death penalty for people under 18.

But Tarig, artist, described se changes as cosmetic. She said that al-Bashir’s Islamist base remains intact and wants to show that it still holds power within security and judicial system.

Last month, while Kuka and his fellow artists were in jail, a group of artists held a protest outside Justice Ministry in Khartoum. y met with Justice Minister Naser al-Din Abdel-Bari, who promised reforms.

ruling against Kuka and or artists has also grabbed attention of film professionals worldwide, many of whom sent an open letter to government calling for artists’ release.

Kuka’s documentary film “Beats of Antov,” which weaves toger sounds of bombardment in Nuba Mountains with resident’s use of music to deal with ongoing war, won People’s Choice Award at 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. His previous works have focused on plight of displaced people in country’s war-torn south. He was ushered in to Acemy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which awards Oscars, earlier this year.

Kuka is originally from Nuba Mountains, held by rebel Sudan Liberation Movement-rth led by Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu. Prior to uprising that erupted late in 2018, he could t enter government-run areas. He arrived in Khartoum in January 2019 at height of uprising to take part in protests, and was detained following month and spent a couple of weeks in jail, he said.

Al-Hilu’s movement, country’s largest single rebel group, did t join a peace agreement sealed earlier this month between government and ar rebel alliance, because of disputes mainly over role for religion in lawmaking.

Kuka said he hopes Sudan's political changes will help end deces of war between government and rebels in south, and usher in a more inclusive society.

“ peace is t complete,” Kuka said. “It is a start for putting down arms.”

He has chosen to stay in capital even after his arrest, because he believes things are changing. w, he sees himself as a member of a vocal opposition that can act as a check on institutions of power.

“I can work, I can live here," he said. “Although we got attacked and things are t perfect, it is definitely way, way, way better.”

(Im: Pixabay)