American Journalist Held in Sudanese Prison

A Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist, Paul Salopek, is being held in a Sudanese jail on charges of espionage. Salopek and his driver and his interpreter, both Chadian nationals who were similarly charged, were arrested in Darfur on August 6th, where Salopek was on assignment for National Geographic. On Tuesday, Representatives Chris Shays and Brian Higgins were able to visit Salopek, who until that time had been kept with 15 other inmates in a 20 foot by 20 foot cell without toilet facilities.

Salopek is one of three journalists, including one other American who has since been released, who have been arrested and held by Sudansese authorities in recent weeks. According to the International News Safety Insitute:

Well-informed sources in Darfur and Khartoum say the pro-government forces are planning an offensive against the non-signatories of the peace agreement. This may be one reason for the clampdown on journalists who were previously welcomed to Darfur… But there is also speculation that the government is seeking bargaining chips – hostages – to ward off the deployment of a UN force in Darfur.