A/HRC/30/60 Issa were detained incommunicado for 2 weeks and later charged in a terrorism court with having undermined the constitutional order and for waging war against the State, two crimes for which the death penalty may be applicable and bail was therefore not guaranteed. On 9 April 2015, their trial was suspended and they were released, together with Mr. Alagar. 18. On 12 April 2015, concerns were raised about the situation of Sandra Kodouda, a Sudanese activist, who was abducted by unidentified persons while on her way to a meeting at the headquarters of the National Umma Party to discuss the election boycott. The National Security Service denied that she had been detained before her release on 15 April. She subsequently issued a written apology, reportedly under duress, in which she denied any involvement of the National Security Service – after it filed defamation charges against her – in her temporary disappearance. 19. In Darfur, the authorities continued to impose restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. In El Fasher, Northern Darfur, demonstrations organized by students at El Fasher University on 14 and 15 April 2015 were repressed by Sudanese police, who arrested and detained 20 students. The students were charged with offences relating to “assault on the constitutional order”, one of which carried a maximum penalty of death. The latter was subsequently removed from the charge sheet and the students were granted bail on 22 April. IV. Main human rights challenges 20. In spite of some progress made in legislative reforms, the Sudan continues to face enormous human rights challenges in terms of securing basic fundamental rights, in particular the rights to freedom of expression and opinion, freedom of the press, freedom of association and peaceful assembly, and freedom of religion. In addition, the recent military operations of the Government in the conflict-affected areas of Darfur, the States of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, as well as inter-tribal clashes, continue to result in serious human rights violations and the large-scale displacement of civilians in these regions. Impunity for human rights violations and abuses, and serious violations of international humanitarian law, remains a recurring problem. The enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights also needs to be improved to address the severe poverty affecting particularly women and children. 21. The Independent Expert discussed these challenges in his meetings with government representatives and appreciates the Government’s commitment to address them as part of its efforts towards improving the situation of human rights in the country. A. Press censorship 22. There is a need to ensure the protection of freedom of the press in the Sudan; the Independent Expert notes in particular the application of national security laws to clamp down on the press, including through the closure of media houses, the arrest of journalists and the confiscation of newspapers and equipment by the National Security Service. 23. Since December 2014, there have been several clampdowns on press and media freedoms, including the censorship and temporary closure of several newspapers. During the period under review, at least 16 newspapers had their publications confiscated on 42 different occasions by the National Security Service. Several journalists reported interrogation and harassment by the police and of security service agents. On 16 February 2015, the print runs of 14 newspapers were confiscated. On 25 May, the editions of 10 newspapers were seized by security service officers. These actions contravene article 39 of 6