Tomo Križnar
Encyclopedia
Tomo Križnar is a peace activist
, writer and special envoy of the Slovene president for Darfur
in Sudan
.
Tomo Križnar was born in Jesenice, Slovenia
. He entered the Sudanese Darfur
region in February 2006 via the neighbouring Chad
, with the help of Darfur rebels and without a valid visa.
He was arrested on 20 July 2006. On 14 August, the criminal court of Al-Fashir
in Northern Darfur convicted Križnar of "publishing false news, espionage and entering Sudan without an entry visa" and sentenced him for two years imprisonment and a fine of 500,000 dinars (2,400 USD). His photography equipment and films were confiscated.
The Slovene government urged Sudan to pardon Križnar. Slovene president Janez Drnovšek
addressed a special letter to his Sudanese colleague Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir and sent another special envoy to Sudan. On 2 September, al-Bashir agreed to pardon and release Tomo Križnar. Križnar returned to Slovenia on 5 September; but he had to leave photography equipment and films – that contain documentations of mass graves according to him – in Sudan.
Peace activist
This list of peace activists includes people who proactively advocate diplomatic, non-military resolution of political disputes, usually through nonviolent means.A peace activist is an activist of the peace movement.*Jane Addams*Martti Ahtisaari...
, writer and special envoy of the Slovene president for Darfur
Darfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
in Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
.
Tomo Križnar was born in Jesenice, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. He entered the Sudanese Darfur
Darfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
region in February 2006 via the neighbouring Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
, with the help of Darfur rebels and without a valid visa.
He was arrested on 20 July 2006. On 14 August, the criminal court of Al-Fashir
Al-Fashir
Al Fashir or Al-Fashir is the capital city of North Darfur, Sudan. It is a large town in the Darfur region of northwestern Sudan, 120 miles northeast of Nyala, Sudan....
in Northern Darfur convicted Križnar of "publishing false news, espionage and entering Sudan without an entry visa" and sentenced him for two years imprisonment and a fine of 500,000 dinars (2,400 USD). His photography equipment and films were confiscated.
The Slovene government urged Sudan to pardon Križnar. Slovene president Janez Drnovšek
Janez Drnovšek
Janez Drnovšek was a Slovenian liberal politician, President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Prime Minister of Slovenia and President of Slovenia . He was born in Celje, Slovenia, then the Socialist Republic of Slovenia...
addressed a special letter to his Sudanese colleague Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir and sent another special envoy to Sudan. On 2 September, al-Bashir agreed to pardon and release Tomo Križnar. Križnar returned to Slovenia on 5 September; but he had to leave photography equipment and films – that contain documentations of mass graves according to him – in Sudan.
See also
- Paul SalopekPaul SalopekPaul Salopek is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winning writer. Salopek was raised in central Mexico.-Life:Salopek received a degree in environmental biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1984...
(Chicago Tribune and National Geographic journalist who was also arrested in Darfur)