Sudan.

Advocacy Team - Open Doors.
Christians in Sudan are facing extreme persecution from their government. Shocking cases, like that of Meriam Ibrahim being sentenced to death for apostasy, rightly cause a worldwide outcry. However, the ongoing persecution of Christians rarely gets a mention.
Take, for instance, the destruction of churches and the ban on constructing new church buildings. This is devastating for the church, placing great restrictions on them and is a flagrant denial of their right to freedom of religion or belief. But it is easier for the world to ignore. And easier for the Sudanese government to get away with. Such a slow and steady squeeze on the church could eventually suffocate it.
This is why we must speak up.
On 12 July, Sudanese Religious Affairs Minister, Shalil Abdullah, reiterated a ban on new church permits, saying that Sudan has enough churches – despite local Christians’ claims that the church is growing.

The ban followed the demolition of the Sudanese Church of Christ building in Khartoum by 70 government officials. They gave only 24 hours’ notice, saying that they wanted the land for housing.
“We have been praying in a tent since the church has been demolished,” a member of the 600-strong congregation told us soon after the demolition. “The government does not want us to do that, yet they refuse to allocate us another place for worship.”  Over a month later, the church is still meeting in a tent which they have to take down after every service.

The government also ordered the demolition of a 300-member Sudan Church of Christ building in Khartoum on 17 February and town planners have reportedly forcibly removed some Christians from their homes in Khartoum to a new site across the river which doesn’t have a church.
Furthermore, we’ve just learnt that the government has also closed the Khartoum Central Church building on Monday 25 August, stating that the building was registered as an office instead of a place of worship. “Please pray this case will be solved,” asked our contact. “The KCC leaders and pastors are very worried and desperate for a solution. They still do not know where they will hold services from this coming Friday.”
All this despite the fact that Sudan has signed up to the UN’s International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which states that everyone shall have the right to freedom of religion, including the right to manifest this religion in public or private, in worship, observance, practice and teaching.

You can do something!

Speak out about this injustice: write to the Sudanese Embassy today. Using the message below, ask that Sudanese Christians would have the freedom to build churches again and let the Sudanese government know that the world is watching.
Please copy the message into a new email, add your name and country to it, and send it to this email address: info@sudan-embassy.co.uk
It’s important that we don’t mention Open Doors in any of our communications with the Sudanese Embassy, which is why this message doesn’t make any reference to the ministry. Also, because of concerns for the security of Open Doors contacts in Sudan, we will not be publicising this letter on our website and want to thank you for your understanding and discretion on this.

However, we would appreciate it if you could notify us by email if you do write to the Sudanese Embassy, as we would love to be able to encourage our contacts with the support you give.

The message:

Mr Bukhari G M Afandi, Chargé d'Affaires, Republic of Sudan

I humbly petition the Republic of Sudan to rescind the ban on new church buildings.

Dear Mr Afandi,

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Sudan is a State Party, protects the right of every person, ‘either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching’. Additionally, the 2005 Interim Constitution of the Republic of Sudan clearly protects the right to freedom of religion or belief.
In this context I was surprised to learn that, on 12 July, the Republic of Sudan reiterated its intent to ban the construction of new church buildings in Sudan. Therefore, I am writing to express my great concern at this ban, which will directly undermine the right to freedom of religion alongside the rights to freedom of assembly and association.
The explanation for the ban on new church buildings is the substantial diminution of the Christian population of Sudan following the secession of South Sudan. However, I humbly submit that there remains a lively Christian community in Sudan which desires to contribute positively to Sudanese society, providing hope and relief to their fellow countrymen in humility and dignity.

I am also very concerned about the demolition of the Sudan Church of Christ building in North Khartoum on 1 July, as well as the demolition of the Sudan Church of Christ building in Ombada, Omdurman on 17 February. Collectively, these churches had 900 members in their congregations who are now without a church building and unable to erect new church buildings. Additionally, I am alarmed at the news that town planners have forcibly moved Christians from their homes to an area across the Nile. This community is also unable to build a place of worship in their new location.

I respectfully request that your government upholds the right to freedom of religion in Sudan by rescinding the ban on new church permits and call upon your government to approach this matter with the justice and compassion that is in keeping with the values of the Sudanese people, the Sudanese Constitution which affirms the right to freedom of religion, and the international human rights law to which Sudan is a State Party. I humbly ask that you raise my concerns with your government.

Please be assured of my continued prayers for your country and for her people.

Yours sincerely,

Name:
                                                                              
Country:

Please continue praying for Sudan: