KHARTOUM: Sudanese authorities refused permission for an International Women’s Day event in Khartoum, an activist said on Sunday, despite President Omar Bashir’s vow that freedoms should be respected.
The March 8 event — marked around the world — had been held without incident for the past eight years at Khartoum’s Nubian Club, women’s activist Fahima Hashim said. “We didn’t get the permission” from state security agents for Saturday’s planned event, she said.
The women were told they needed additional authorization from a government commission handling voluntary activities but that was just a delaying tactic, said Hashim, director of the Salam Center for women’s rights. Hashim said it was unclear why approval was denied but it might be connected with the larger size of this year’s event.
“We had more than 30 groups joining us,” she said.
The day-long event typically features exhibitions, forums, films and concludes with a party.
Women’s Day event denied permission in Sudan
