ICC Note: 

The number of pastors in prisons in Sudan has increased after the latest arrests of six more pastors last week. ICC has been following the situation of the three pastors who have been in prison for months and have a hearing scheduled for October 17. The recent arrests of additional pastors is proof that Sudan is making no progress towards religious freedom in spite of international pressure to stop persecution of Christians. 

10/11/2016 Sudan (Christian Today) Six Christians were jailed in Sudan last week for refusing to hand over church property to the government, persecution charity Open Doors reports.

The three pastors and three church members were arrested and briefly detained on 6 October in the town of Wad Medani when they refused to hand over a school run by their evangelical church.

The arrests follow a number of other arrests of Christians in the country, where Christians face persecution.

“While in custody, they were questioned by police over the reasons for disobeying the orders. They were released on bail later the same day. It is not clear if further legal action is planned,” a source told Open Doors.

Five other churches – three belonging to the Sudan Church of Christ, one to the Presbyterian Church and the other to the Episcopal Church – have been told their buildings will be demolished. Open Doors’ source said officials told churches “their land had been assigned for investment”.

According to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, the Sudanese government “continues to engage in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of freedom of religion or belief.” Designated by the Commission as a ‘country of particular concern’ since 1999, Sudan’s population is over 97 per cent Muslim, and the country’s criminal code restricts religious freedom for all citizens. It also imposes Shariah Law on Muslims and Christians, allowing the death penalty for apostasy, stoning for adultery and prison sentences for blasphemy.

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