The Inqazi Journalism: Rape Attempt and Sexual Harassment

The Inqazi Journalism: Rape Attempt and Sexual Harassment: Personal Encounter
Year 1996


I was hesitant for quite sometimes to bring this experience into public and share it with others. It was such an annoying and disgusting experience. It made me feel vulnerable and ashamed of being a female. For these reasons, I decided to ignore this experience and forget all about it for long time.
However, later on when I have developed some interests in dealing with issues of sexual harassments and rapes, I also realized that striving to try and ignore and forget about the sexual harassment experiences is common to the victims to most of the victims.
During that period of time, I have distanced myself from anything that has to do with the Inqazi journalism, though I have deep feelings of contempt towards some of them, in particular the Islamists elements. I am obliged here to clarify what I mean by Inqazi Journalism. For me, it includes some of the newspapers which have direct or indirect links to the ruling party. I would, however, exclude those journalists who managed to obtain the respect of the public by their honesty and professionalism.
My encounter has started some time few years ago.
I was a little girl who was so much fond of journalism. When I finished my post-graduate Diploma at the University of Khartoum, one of my journalism professors advised me to pursue my career in journalism. I told him that I was not familiar with any person working in that field and that my shyness always stands as an obstacle to initiating such contacts.
My professor wrote me a recommendation letter that I should take to the owner of one of the major newspapers which at the beginning was opposing the Inqazi policies but at the end endorsed and advocated these same policies.
Only after several failed attempts I managed to meet with the owner of the newspaper who after scorning and looking me down allowed me to work in the newspaper as a trainee. The training work was very challenging as we used to work crazy hours until 7:00 pm. Also during this time I have started my M.A studies which required more attention, a lot of field work and intermittent surprising exams. However, my love for journalism enabled me to tolerate these challenges.
During my training period I was assigned to do difficult missions such as covering events that I have to travel to or conducting interviews. I used to spend for my transportation and the other expenses from my own pocket a thing which has weighed heavily on my limited budget as a student living at the dorms of the University of Khartoum. Nevertheless, I was not credited for the work I used to and my name was often dropped off the reports I provided.
That situation continued in that manner until one day I was surprised by an indecent proposal made to my by an old journalist. At the beginning I pretended as if I did not understand the proposal until he repeated it several times. At this point I felt I did not like to go to the office and eventually I withdrew completely form going there any more.
A friend of mine, who knew before hand my intention to withdraw from this place, introduced me to a young journalist who owned a newly launched newspaper which interested in entertainment issues. The Young journalist asked me to come and see him after two days.
After two days of our introduction I went to meet with the young journalist. It was about 4:00 pm. With the exception of the Secretary who told me that the young journalist was waiting for me, it seemed as if every one else was gone. As soon as I entered his office, the young journalist asked me to sit down and pointed to an empty bench by the wall. I ignored his request and instead sat on one of the two chairs by his desk. He got up from his place and came and sat on the other chair which was facing the one I was occupying. Then He asked me if I wanted to work with him and I told him that was what I wanted. After that he told me that he was going to hire me immediately and offer me good salary. He then, and in an unrespectable manners, went on mentioning that everything has its price while at the same time placing his hand on my knee. This sudden move made me jumped up from my chair and stood there overwhelmed by astonishment. He jumped at me and tried to pull me towards the bench by the wall while murmuring with dirty comments. At this moment, even his looks changed and he became like a real monster. As I was resisting him, I told him I would scream loud and ask for help. But he laughed and told me to do whatever I wanted and that no body would come for my rescue.
Overwhelmed by fear, I slapped him very hard on his face using my hand. Surprisingly, he let go of me and I ran for my safety passing by the secretary and few others who seemed were not interested to notice anything unusual.
At the dorm, I told few friends about me ordeal. Then later on I came to know that the young journalist was well reputed for attacking girls in his office. I have also heard different stories about how high ranking journalists and media professional lure women into have sex with them in exchange for promises of hiring.
This incident took place sometime during 1997. Since then I became interested in the issues of sexual harassment which women face at workplace. However, The majority of women who experience sexual harassment in the workplace becomes reluctant and keeps these experiences as secrets or reveals it to a very limited numbers of close friends.
Women under the policies of the current fundamentalist regime in Sudan are very vulnerable and they do really need whatever help out there.


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Translated by Mohammed Osman Dreg.