Sudanese filmmaker Hajooj Kuka released from prison

Jailed Sudanese filmmaker and Academy Award judge Hajooj Kuka has been released from prison in the capital, Khartoum, along with four artists after lawyers appealed their sentence.

They were sentenced last month to two months in prison for public nuisance and disruption of public safety. They were also fined $90 (£70) each.

Six of their colleagues who are still imprisoned will have their appeal heard on Monday.

South African film producer Steven Markovitz has tweeted a photo of the released artists:

Great news!! @hajooj and the four artists have just been released :) International pressure made a difference. There are still six artists in jail pending appeal and many more people who have been arbitrarily detained in Sudan. pic.twitter.com/UKzpBVA6QB

— steven markovitz (@stevenmarkovitz) October 1, 2020

After his release, Kuka is quoted as saying by Vice website that the fight for justice will continues so that Sudanese people “will be able to create art, we will be able to have freedom of speech, and move on”.

In a BBC Focus on Africa radio interview from his cell, Kuka had said he was treated "really badly" at first, and was whipped on two different days.