HUDO Centre
8th November 2017
(Statement For Immediate release)
SUDAN GOVERNMENT INTERVENES IN CHRISTIAN’s WORSHIP
On 22nd October 2017, Public Order Police arrested five Christian leaders from
Christ Church in Elthawra of Omdurman. This incident (arrest) came after the
police had forcefully obstructed church members from worship. Since 27th May
2017, there was agreement between the executive committee and the opposing
group in the Christ church on the manner in which worship time was constituted
for each of them. The executive committee is the elected committee by the
church’s followers while the opposition group is associated to the ministry of
religious affairs which consists of five pastors with some followers. On Sunday
22th October 2017, church members gathered for prayers at Christ church in
Althawra (29) at the agreed time but they were locked outside by the police.
The police blocked them on grounds that, there was a resolution issued by the
ministry rejecting the agreement and ordering members of this church to worship
under the nominated pastor by opposition group. The church members together
with their pastors remained on the church yard up to the time when the
opposition group came and opened the church. Then, the two groups entered the
church and worshipped separately. At 1:00 PM, soon after prayers, a police
officer from Althawra police station ordered five church leaders including
executive committee members to report to the police station. Upon their
arrival, the police officer filed a case against the five arrested church
leader under article 77 of Sudan Penal Code – 1991 (Public nuisance) and
detained them. The arrested church leaders were:
1. Pastor/ Ayoub Telian, the president of the executive committee of Sudanese
Christ church.
2. Pastor/ Ali hakim, the sponsor of Elthawra (29) Christ church.
3. Pastor/ Imbrator Hamad Badur.
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4. The missionary/ Mr. Habeil Ibrahim Eltahir.
5. Mr. Abdelbagi Tutu Korey, member of the executive committee of Sudanese
Christ Church. They were released on the same day at 10:00 PM on police bond
(bail) and a court trial was scheduled for 31st October 2017 in Althawra court.
All the five arrested church leaders were attended the trial scheduled date
while the complainant/ plaintiff (the policeman) was absent. One of the
defendants’ lawyers informed HUDO that the judge offered an arrangement (deal)
of discharging the case if the five defendants agreed by signing not to act in
the same manner. The offer was entirely rejected by the defendants. Then the
judge postponed court to 15th November 2017. HUDO Centre’s executive director
Bushra Gamar commented that “We cannot take this case in isolation from many
previous cases concerning the oppression and infringement of Christians’ rights
by Sudan government. It is a deliberate process in which the current regime has
created churches management department headed by Muslims at the ministry of
religions intervening in Christians basic rights of worship while leaving the
Sudanese Church Council with the secondary role. That aside, the ministry
intended to support small groups against the legitimate committees neglecting
the will of majority. Nevertheless, the court offering a dismissal case deal in
the absence of the complainant” HUDO Centre is very concerned about Christians’
right of worship.
We call upon;
· The Sudanese community to
support the Sudanese Christians and to carry out a campaign in protecting the
freedom of worship.
· The supporters and
activists to attend the next court session.
· The international
community and embassies in Sudan to put more pressure on Sudan government to
stop targeting Christians.
END: For any further information please contact hudo2009@gmail.com