A/HRC/36/63 democratic society. In that regard, the Independent Expert welcomes a presidential pardon that gave way to the release on 11 May 2017 of two pastors who had been sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment. E. Press censorship 32. The Independent Expert would like to express concern about ongoing censorship of newspapers and increased restrictions on journalists from expressing freely their opinion. Pre-publication censorship continues to be used against newspapers and some journalists were ordered to cease their newspaper columns. The National Security Service continues to intimidate and instil fear of arrest in journalists, which impedes press freedom, freedom of opinion and freedom of expression. In addition, post-publication censorship continued unabated and government security agents seized printed newspapers for allegedly crossing publication “red lines” set by the National Security Service. Between October and June 2017, printed editions of different newspapers, such as Al-Tayar, Al-Jareeda Al-Watan, AlYoum Al-Tali, Al-Ayam and Akhir Lahza, were confiscated by government security agents without them stating specific reasons. Moreover, the decision by the National Security Service to ban an Al-Jareeda columnist from writing contravened the Interim National Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the Sudan is a party. 33. The Independent Expert raised the issue in his discussions with government officials as a legitimate concern to which the Government needed to pay attention, in view of the importance of freedom of expression and of the press in the promotion and protection of human rights in a democratic society. The Government was encouraged to amend the Press and Publication Act in order to provide more protection to journalists and newspapers publishers. F. Human rights violations committed during the demonstrations of September 2013 34. In May 2017, the Government of the Sudan submitted to the Independent Expert a report on the status of implementation of the recommendations made by him to the Government in his previous reports. 1 While the Independent Expert appreciates that initiative, he notes with concern that the report of the Government did not include information on the issue of the victims and families of victims of the oil demonstrations of September 2013. 35. The Independent Expert would welcome updates from the Government on the compensation process for the victims and families of victims of the September 2013 incidents. In addition, he reiterates his call on the Government to ensure that an independent judicial inquiry is conducted into the killings and various other human rights violations committed during those incidents, and to bring those responsible to justice. G. Human rights situation in conflict-affected areas 36. The Independent Expert would like to commend at the outset the decision by the Government of the Sudan to extend the ceasefire in the conflict-affected regions of Darfur and in the two areas of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, which is generally holding. He is also encouraged by the decision by the Government to resume peace talks with the different armed opposition groups for a lasting peace in the country. 37. Despite the decline in military operations in those regions, the overall security situation remains volatile and unpredictable. 1 A/HRC/30/60 and A/HRC/33/65. 7