Location: Sudan, Khartoum
Date: October 21, 2020

Available in: 🇸🇦  عربي

Several TV anchors on the Sudanese National TV recently appeared on screen with no veil, reflecting the new liberation era in Sudan. The anchors took this step as the veil was obligatory during the Al-Bashir regime but not anymore. The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes this step as it removes limitations on women journalists and anchors and allows them to represent themselves freely.

On October 14, TV anchor Elham Elebied and others presented the news without a veil or traditional Sudanese dress. The anchors expressed their relief that the veil is not obligatory anymore and they can dress and appear on TV without restrictions.

Wearing veils and restrictions on women's dress code were imposed during the Al-Bashir regime by law. National TV had a code of conduct that regulated women's TV anchor's appearance and restricted dress code to the Sudanese traditional dress and veil. This code was amended in 1999 but it still imposed restrictions on women journalists’ and anchors' appearance.

The move caused overwhelming reactions. While some consider it a step to liberate women and ensure their freedom of choice, others attacked the anchors who took off their veils claiming that veil is not tied with the regime but it’s a representation of Sudanese culture and values.

For her part, anchor Elham Elebeed commented “my decision to appear without a veil is complying with the revolutionary principles and personal freedoms. This is how I look in my day to day life. It’s time to set new references that don’t restrict freedoms. If the national tv imposes restrictions again, I won’t comply or accept limitations on my freedom again”

Journalist and “Female Sudanese Journalists Network” co-founder Lima Algaly also commented on this progressive move: “This step symbolizes a return to the normal look of women's appearance in media outlets from what was imposed by the former regime due to its ideology. If we examine the national tv archives before the Al-Bashir era, we will find plenty of women anchors without a veil, and if we examine further, Sudanese women generally used to wear various different types of national dresses based on their regional and tribal heritage. Imposing Islamic and Arabic characteristics on dress code by oppression and lashes proves the former regime’s failure. By removing the public order law, Sudanese street is back to its joyful diversity. What’s even more dangerous is that the former regime was pressuring women anchors to have a specific light skin color to appear on TV. So women anchors used extremely harmful bleaching chemicals that caused them to suffer from serious diseases. Subsequently, it impacted their whole career.”

The Coalition For Women In Journalism bolsters women anchors courage and persistence to retrieve back their long-gone rights and freedoms. The Sudanese revolution is reaping its initial rewards by liberation of women in all sectors.

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The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world, and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

Follow us on Instagram @womeninjournalism and Twitter @CFWIJ. Our website is WomenInJournalism.org and we can be reached at press@womeninjournalism.org

The Coalition For Women In Journalism closely monitors the incidents in Turkey with great concern. Since March 8, Women's Day, police violence against women journalists increasingly continues in the country. As the coalition, we urge the Turkish state to provide a free environment for journalists. Following the news is our most fundamental democratic right to report. We demand the immediate release of our detained colleagues. Journalism is not a crime. Journalism cannot be prevented.

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