Port Sudan Court: Buraer Altoum Cybercrime Conviction Includes Flogging

• A Port Sudan court on September 14, 2026, convicted volunteer Buraer Altoum under Sudan's Cybercrime Law.
• Altoum received a five-year suspended prison sentence, two years of supervision, a five million pound fine, and 50 public lashes.
• The charges included undermining public security, contempt of other sects, and spreading false news, based on Articles 14, 24, and 26 of the Cybercrime Law.
• Al Jazeera Human Rights Monitor condemned the ruling, citing concerns over freedom of expression and the harsh, humiliating nature of the penalties, especially public flogging.
• The monitor called for a review of the judgment, a fair trial for Altoum, and an end to using criminal laws to suppress free expression.

This ruling signals an escalating risk for individuals and organizations operating in Sudan regarding online expression, demonstrating the broad and punitive application of the Cybercrime Law.

A court in Port Sudan, located in eastern Sudan, on Monday, September 14, 2026, handed down a severe sentence to volunteer Buraer Altoum following his conviction under the nation's Cybercrime Law. The ruling included a suspended prison term, a substantial fine, and a public flogging, drawing immediate criticism from human rights observers.

Altoum, who was active as a volunteer with the Red Sea State Emergency Room, had been apprehended by security authorities in August of the previous year, 2025. Legal proceedings were subsequently initiated against him, culminating in the recent judgment. The court found Altoum guilty on multiple counts, specifically citing Articles 14, 24, and 26 of the Cybercrime Law, which pertain to undermining public security and safety, showing contempt for other sects, and disseminating false news, respectively.

The penalties imposed were multifaceted and punitive. For the charge under Article 14, Buraer Altoum received a five-year prison sentence, which was suspended, alongside two years of supervision. However, the conviction under Article 26 carried a particularly harsh punishment: a fine of five million Sudanese pounds, 50 lashes to be administered in a public setting, and an additional six months of imprisonment should he fail to pay the fine.

The conviction of Buraer Altoum highlights the broad and often punitive application of Sudan's Cybercrime Law, officially known as the Information Crimes Law. This legislation grants authorities significant power to prosecute individuals for online activities, particularly those perceived to threaten public order or spread misinformation. The specific articles invoked in Altoum's case—Article 14 concerning public security, Article 24 on contempt of sects, and Article 26 regarding false news—demonstrate the wide scope through which digital expression can be criminalized.

This ruling signals an escalating risk for individuals and organizations operating in Sudan regarding online expression, demonstrating the broad and punitive application of the Cybercrime Law. The use of such broad provisions against a volunteer activist underscores concerns about the shrinking space for digital freedoms in the country. Lawyers should advise clients on the severe implications of perceived violations, particularly concerning 'false news' or 'public security' charges, and monitor for further restrictions on digital freedoms.

The Al Jazeera Human Rights Monitor in Sudan swiftly condemned the Port Sudan court's decision, expressing profound concern over the use of the Cybercrime Law in cases involving freedom of opinion and expression. The monitor specifically criticized the severity of the penalties, describing them as harsh and demeaning to human dignity, with particular emphasis on the public flogging sentence.

In response to the Buraer Altoum flogging sentence and other penalties, the Al Jazeera Human Rights Monitor called for an immediate review of the judgment. They urged authorities to ensure Buraer Altoum's right to a fair trial and demanded the cancellation of all penalties deemed to violate human dignity. Furthermore, the monitor appealed to Sudanese authorities to uphold freedom of expression and to refrain from employing criminal laws as a tool for suppression, especially in the context of online discourse.

This ruling signals an escalating risk for individuals and organizations operating in Sudan regarding online expression, demonstrating the broad and punitive application of the Cybercrime Law. Lawyers should advise clients on the severe implications of perceived violations, particularly concerning 'false news' or 'public security' charges, and monitor for further restrictions on digital freedoms.

Source: Original reporting via Sudan Tribune