A/HRC/33/65 A. Human rights violations committed during the demonstrations of September 2013 20. As a follow-up to his last visit and report, the Independent Expert raised the issue of the victims and families of victims of the oil-subsidy demonstrations of September 2013 with the Sudanese authorities. The Independent Expert recalled that there had been demonstrations in relation to the withdrawal of the oil subsidy across Khartoum State in September 2013, which had resulted in fatal shootings, injuries and destruction of property and had led to the arrest and detention of many demonstrators. The international community had called for a thorough investigation of the human rights violations that had been committed during the demonstrations. 21. The Independent Expert was informed about the ongoing compensation process for victims and families of victims of these incidents by the Government of the Sudan. Nonetheless, he encouraged the authorities to ensure that an independent judicial inquiry was conducted into the killings and various other human rights violations and to bring those responsible for these incidents to justice. Impunity for human rights violations would send the wrong message to victims, perpetrators and the wider public and would undermine the rule of law. B. Press censorship 22. Since October 2015, there had been several clampdowns on press and media freedoms, including the censorship and temporary closure of newspapers in the Sudan. In this regard, on 12 October 2015, Manal Abdul-Allah, a journalist at Al-Siyasi newspaper, was summoned and interrogated by security officers in relation to an article regarding the possible presence of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant in the Sudan. Al-Tayar and AlSayha newspapers were seized by security officers on 13 December 2015, before being shut down on 14 December 2015. 23. On 1 March 2016, the National Intelligence and Security Service summoned and interrogated Rokaya al-Zaki, a journalist at Al-Ray Al-Aam newspaper, after the publication of an article on financial corruption relating to the Workers’ Union. During the second week of May 2016, the National Intelligence and Security Service confiscated the independent daily newspaper Al-Gareeda for unknown reasons. Printed copies of the newspaper were seized by security service officers on 9, 10, 12 and 13 May 2016. In addition, journalists reported that they had been interrogated and harassed by the police and security service officers. 24. The Independent Expert raised this issue in his discussions with government officials as a legitimate concern to which the Government needed to pay attention. In this regard, he welcomes the 1 May 2016 decision of the Constitutional Court that allowed AlTayar newspaper to resume its activities. He calls upon the Government to create an environment conducive to a free and independent press. C. Harassment of human rights defenders and curtailment of activities of civil society organizations 25. During the reporting period, the Government continued to clamp down on the activities of civil society organizations. 26. On 29 February 2016, the National Intelligence and Security Service raided the Khartoum Centre for Training and Human Development, a civil society organization, and confiscated nine mobile phones, five laptops, as well as publications, flip charts and other 6