Ajras Al-Huriyya (Bells of Freedom) was a popular daily Arabic newspaper in Sudan 2008-2011. The paper described itself in its motto as ‘the Voice of the marginalized, democrats and civil society’.
Ajras al-Huriyya translates in English to ‘Bells of Freedom’, in reference to the Liberty Bell as a symbol of (first American, but now general) freedom and independence. In addition to the customary phrase ‘In the name of Allah the most merciful, the most beneficent', which appears over the logos of Sudan's Arabic newspapers, Ajras al-Huriyya also includes an Arabic translation of the Biblical phrase ‘and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free’.
Ajras Al-Huriyya was launched 7 April 2008 in Khartoum, bringing together a number of journalists from liberal and independent papers and a number of southern Sudanese writers. The paper had a small section on its frontpage called ‘shikayat muwatin (a citizen's complaint)’, which invited public complaints addressed to concerned state officials. Also included was a weekly cultural page. Ajras al-Huriyya is also a pro-opposition Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) newspaper. SPLM are the former southern Sudanese rebels who waged a two-decade war against the Arab government in Khartoum, that ended with a Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005.
The newspaper was suspended more than 10 times. For example, 5 November 2008 the paper called for a 24-hour hunger strike and a three-day suspension of publication to protest state censorship. The paper was subsequently suspended for one more day, accused of not having notified the authorities about the strike. The newspaper’s final shutdown was 8 July 2011, a day before the south declared formal independence from the north. At this time the authorities in Khartoum cancelled the licences of six newspapers, including Ajras Al-Huriyya. Officially, these papers were shut down because of their part ownership by southerners, who are no longer Sudanese nationals as required by Sudan's press law.
Mr Abbas Alhaj, formerly editor of Ajras Al-Huriyya’s cultural section, saved many of the newspaper’s pages. Sudan Memory worked with Mr Abbas Alhaj to digitise these pages and to make them available to the public once again.