KHADEEJA
ALDEWAIHI

Background and Work

Khadeeja Aldewaihi is a member of the Sudanese Organization for Research and Development (SWORD), a civil society organization engaged in human rights research and advocacy. Her work centers on women's rights and environmental issues in Sudan, and she brings these perspectives to a wider audience through her role as a television presenter with Al-Shorouk TV, a channel that covers social and political issues in the country.

Aldewaihi became active during a period of significant political transition in Sudan. Following the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir's government in 2019, the country entered a power-sharing arrangement between civilian and military leaders. Despite initial optimism, many civil society actors and journalists found themselves under renewed scrutiny, particularly for online expression. The 2018 Cybercrimes Act, inherited from the previous regime, remained in force and was increasingly used to prosecute critics.

The Facebook Post

On 13 May 2020, Aldewaihi published a post on Facebook about the resignation of Sudan's Minister of Health and the challenges facing the health sector. The post came amid public concern over the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and broader systemic failures in healthcare delivery. It was the kind of commentary typical of politically engaged journalists and civil society members in Sudan.

For six months, nothing happened. Then, on 29 November 2020, two police officers arrived at her home. They told a relative present in the house that they were long-standing colleagues of Aldewaihi from Al-Shorouk TV. Once admitted, they delivered a summons requiring her to appear at the police station the following day for questioning.

Interrogations and Political Inquiry

On 30 November 2020, Aldewaihi presented herself at the police station. Officers interrogated her about the Facebook post from May. The questions focused on the content and intent of her statements about the health minister and the health system.

Two weeks later, on the morning of 14 December 2020, she was summoned to the Office of the Cybercrime Prosecutor. The scope of questioning expanded. In addition to the Facebook post, prosecutors asked about her political affiliation and alleged engagement with the Sudanese Communist Party. On 16 December 2020, she was summoned again to the same office. This time, investigators questioned her about her alleged relationship with the Sudanese Universities Graduate Association and their Facebook account.

The shift from a single social media post to inquiries about organizational ties and political alignment indicated that the investigation was targeting her broader role in civil society, not merely the expression of an opinion about public health policy.

Formal Charges

On 18 March 2021, the Cybercrime Prosecutor formally charged Aldewaihi under Articles 24 and 25 of the 2018 Cybercrimes Act with "publishing false news online." The prosecutor referred the case for trial. Aldewaihi could be summoned to court at any time. If convicted, she faces imprisonment under a law that has been systematically misused to silence dissent.

The charges relate exclusively to the Facebook post from May 2020 about the health minister's resignation and the healthcare system's failures. No evidence has been presented that the post contained false information. The health sector's challenges during the pandemic were widely reported and acknowledged by government officials themselves.

Legal and Political Context

The 2018 Cybercrimes Act was passed under the Bashir government as part of a broader effort to control online expression. Despite the political transition that began in 2019, the law remains in effect. Its vague provisions on "false news" grant prosecutors wide discretion to target critics. Articles 24 and 25, under which Aldewaihi is charged, criminalize the publication or dissemination of information deemed false or harmful to public order, without requiring proof of intent to deceive or actual harm.

Aldewaihi is not alone. Other defenders and journalists in Sudan have faced prosecution under the same law. The case against her is part of a pattern in which authorities use cybercrime legislation to silence online commentary that challenges government policy or exposes failures in governance.

Current Status

As of early 2021, Aldewaihi's case remained pending before the courts. She has not been detained, but the threat of trial and imprisonment hangs over her. The judicial harassment has a chilling effect not only on her own work but on the broader community of journalists, researchers, and civil society activists in Sudan who rely on social media to communicate with the public and hold institutions accountable.