Hopeful Signs for Change in Sudan Meet with Cautious Pessimism

September 21, 2019

Coptic cathedral in Khartoum. (Wikipedia)

Coptic cathedral in Khartoum, Sudan. (Wikipedia)

JUBA, South Sudan (Morning Star News) – The appointment of a Christian woman to the council overseeing transition to civilian rule in Sudan is a hopeful sign, but some persecution-weary Christians are less than optimistic about prospects for improved religious rights.

Raja Nicola Eissa Abdel-Masih, a Coptic Christian who long served as a judge in Sudan’s Ministry of Justice, was one of six civilians appointed to the 11-member Sovereignty Council on Aug. 21. But Christians who have seen increased persecution from former President Omar al-Bashir’s Islamist campaign of the last seven years question whether Abdel-Masih and the new government can counter an entrenched Islamist mindset.

The Rev. Yahia Nalu of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SPEC) said Abdel-Masih’s appointment is a positive symbol, but that it remains to be seen whether the council, with six civilian and five military members, can bring equality.

“Sudan’s case has to do with equality and the rule of law – rights have to be based on citizenship and nothing else,” Pastor Nalu told Morning Star News.

Abdel-Masih has said her appointment will enhance religious coexistence in Sudan. But the Rev. Kwa Shamaal (also transliterated Kuwa Shamaal) of the Sudanese Church of Christ, jailed for nearly two years between 2015 and 2017, is among those who believe her appointment does not necessarily mean discrimination, false charges and confiscation of church properties will end in Sudan.

“Although there is a new government formed, that does not mean Christians will be free from persecution in Sudan,” Pastor Kwa said.

Other church leaders feel that not much can be expected of the new government. The Rev. Sidik Anglo of the SPEC said the formation of a new government is good politically but may not translate into improved conditions for churches.

“Up to this moment, there is nothing clear in the political arena,” Pastor Anglo said.

The new administration has indicated it seeks to make Sudan a country inclusive of all faiths, and Abdel-Masih has shown support for Christian rights. She advocated for religious rights of Christians in September 2012, when she objected to the closing in 2011 of the Special Commission for the Protection of the Rights of Non-Muslims in Khartoum.

The commission had represented non-Muslims arrested for alleged violations of sharia (Islamic law) to law enforcement agencies and published reports and recommendations to the government about non-Muslims’ rights. The Bashir administration closed it after the secession of South Sudan in 2011.

Abdel-Masih has also criticized employers for failing to grant Christians their legal right to two hours of prayer and has objected to the government compelling children to go to school on Sundays, depriving them of their right to worship.

Christians are expected to have greater voice under the new administration. Pastor Mobarak Hamaad, former head of the Sudanese Church Council, this week demanded that the transitional government return all church buildings, lands and properties wrongfully confiscated by the former regime, according to local media reports.

The new government led by New Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, an economist, and 18 cabinet members, was sworn in on Sunday (Sept. 8), tasked with governing during a transition period of 39 months. It faces the challenges of rooting out longstanding corruption and an Islamist “deep state” rooted in Bashir’s 30 years of power.

The army ousted Bashir on April 11 after widespread protests began in December 2018 and then immediately formed a military council. Further demonstrations led the military to accept a transitional government of civilians and military figures, with a predominantly civilian government to be democratically elected in three years.

More than 250 people are estimated to have been killed in the protest-related violence since December, according to leaders of the protest movement of professionals and doctors that led to Bashir’s demise. Of those, at least 127 protestors were killed in a crack-down in early June on an extended sit-in at military headquarters in Khartoum.

Bashir, who came to power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989, faces charges of illegal acquisition and use of foreign funds. In Khartoum’s Kobar prison, he is charged with “inciting and participating in” the killing of protestors. In March 2009, the International Criminal Court indicted him for directing a campaign of mass killing, rape, and pillage against civilians in Darfur.

Following the secession of South Sudan in 2011, Bashir vowed to adopt a stricter version of sharia and recognize only Islamic culture and the Arabic language. Church leaders said Sudanese authorities have demolished or confiscated churches and limited Christian literature on the pretext that most Christians have left the country following South Sudan’s secession.

The Sudanese Minister of Guidance and Endowments announced in April 2013 that no new licenses would be granted for building new churches in Sudan, citing a decrease in the South Sudanese population.

Sudan since 2012 has expelled foreign Christians and bulldozed church buildings. Besides raiding Christian bookstores and arresting Christians, authorities threatened to kill South Sudanese Christians who do not leave or cooperate with them in their effort to find other Christians.

Sudan fought a civil war with the south Sudanese from 1983 to 2005, and in June 2011, shortly before the secession of South Sudan the following month, the government began fighting a rebel group in the Nuba Mountains that has its roots in South Sudan.

Due to its treatment of Christians and other human rights violations, Sudan has been designated a Country of Particular Concern by the U.S. State Department since 1999.

Sudan ranked sixth on Christian support organization Open Doors’ 2019 World Watch List of countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.  

If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/?   

###

© 2019 Morning Star News. Articles/photos may be reprinted with credit to Morning Star News.

Morning Star News is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that relies solely on contributions to offer original news reports of persecuted Christians. By providing reliable news on the suffering church, Morning Star News’ mission is to empower those in the free world to help and to encourage persecuted Christians that they are not forgotten or alone. For free subscription, contact editor@morningstarnews.org; to make tax-deductible donations, visit https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? or send check to Morning Star News, 1570 S. Pilar Way, Nampa, ID 83651, USA.

The post Hopeful Signs for Change in Sudan Meet with Cautious Pessimism appeared first on Morningstar News.

Go to Source
Author: Our Sudan Correspondent

Thank you for reading.

Please consider sharing this post on social media.

 

If you have questions about Christianity or How to Get Saved just scroll down a bit for more information. For starters Christianity is not Behavior Modification but a Heart Transformation.

Unreal Post

Faith, Sine Qua Non

Let's continue the conversation on Facebook!

Your opinion matters! Join the conversation on our Facebook page and speak your mind!

The Good News

salvation

Salvation is a FREE GIFT from God. You don’t have to do anything but believe by faith that God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead 3 days later.

THE GOOD NEWS

SALVATION

Salvation is a FREE GIFT from God. SALVATION IS BY FAITH ALONE & FAITH IS BELIEVING WHAT GOD SAYS.

  1. God declares all mankind sinners and we all fall short of Glory of God. Romans 3:23
  2. The payment for our sin is death. Romans 6:23
  3. But God…because he loved you so much sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, to die in your place, for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead three days later. 1 Cor 15:1-42cor 5:21

All God asks is that you believe by faith alone in 1, 2, & 3. That you’re a sinner, separated from God but God sent his Son to die for your sins, was buried & rose again 3 days later.

‘that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ‘

Romans 10:9

Do You Believe?

You May Also Like…

Get the Prophecy Update read by 79K Every day

Get the Prophecy Update read by 79K Every day

Not just sensational news, we provide applicable scripture to what's going on in the news. Subscribe today!

You have Successfully Subscribed!