The Journalists Syndicate condemns the detention of Maha Al-Talib and the deportation of Nader Atta for investigation.

July 14, 2026 (PEN) The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate announced its full solidarity with Al-Sharq TV correspondent Maha Al-Talib and journalist Nader Atta, and condemned the arbitrary measures they were recently subjected to, considering them to be a worrying escalation in targeting journalists and restricting the freedom of journalistic work.

The union said in a statement on Monday that Maha Al-Talib was detained for more than ten hours inside the headquarters of the intelligence service in Port Sudan after she was summoned, while Nader Atta was transferred from Khartoum to Port Sudan for questioning regarding a newspaper article he published.

The union explained that Al-Talib’s detention was based on accusations that she had been accused of publishing information she had not released, and described the accusations as “lacking evidence,” and said they could have been verified without resorting to detention.

She also condemned the transfer of Atta over a long distance for the investigation, despite the possibility of conducting it in his place of residence, and considered this a "serious transgression" that opens the door to using criminal procedures to prosecute journalists for their opinions.

The union reaffirmed the journalists' commitment to the law, but warned against the increasing number of reports, summonses, and forced deportations, considering them "tools of pressure and professional attrition" rather than tools for achieving justice.

The relevant authorities were urged to stop the policy of detention, deportation and prosecution through reports, to respect the laws regulating journalistic work, and to guarantee the right to defense and a fair trial.

The union affirmed that it will continue to take all legal and union measures to defend Al-Talib, Atta, and all journalists who are being persecuted for performing their professional duty, stressing that the continuation of these policies undermines the media environment and perpetuates a climate of fear.