19.09.2008 - Source: US Department of State

The government has codified limited aspects of Shari'a law into criminal and civil laws, with penalties dependent on the religion of the accused ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24777]

"The Government has codified limited aspects of Shari'a law into criminal and civil laws, with penalties dependent on the religion of the accused.

For instance, the consumption of alcohol is punishable by 40 lashes for a Muslim, and 20 lashes for a Christian;

however, there were no reported incidents of this punishment being applied during the reporting period."

Document(s): Open document

19.09.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Northern Sudan: Shari'a apostasy penalties within the legal code limit Christian missionary activities; government delays issuance of visas to foreigners with affiliations to international faith-based organizations for long periods of time ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24779]

"Shari'a apostasy penalties within the legal code limit Christian missionary activities in the north.

The Government customarily delayed the issuance of visas to foreigners with affiliations to international faith-based organizations for long periods of time.

The GoSS does not restrict the presence of foreign missionaries and does not require them to register."

Document(s): Open document

19.09.2008 - Source: US Department of State

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 (CPA) mandated the creation of the Commission for the Rights of Non-Muslims in the National Capital, a mechanism designed to advise the courts on how to fairly apply Shari'a to non-Muslims ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24780]

"The Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 (CPA) mandated the creation of the Commission for the Rights of Non-Muslims in the National Capital, a mechanism designed to advise the courts on how to fairly apply Shari'a to non-Muslims.

The Commission, comprised of representatives from Muslim, Christian, and traditional religious groups, met several times during the reporting period.

Although the Commission made little headway in changing official government policy towards non-Muslims in Khartoum, it created a forum for dialogue on religious matters that was previously nonexistent and was successful in obtaining release or leniency for some non-Muslims arrested for violating Shari'a law."

Document(s): Open document

05.05.2008 - Source: Freedom House

Criminal law is based on Sharia and provides for punishments such as flogging and amputation ("The Worst of the Worst: The World's Most Repressive Societies 2008") [ID 23574]

"Sudanese criminal law is based on Sharia and provides for punishments such as flogging and amputation, although non-Muslim southern states are not subject to Sharia."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Government officially exempts 10 Southern states from Sharia law ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19132]

"In accordance with Shari'a (Islamic law), the Criminal Act provides for physical punishments, including flogging, amputation, stoning, and "crucifixion"--the public display of a body after execution. Under the interim constitution, the government officially exempts the 10 southern states from Shari'a law, though some judges in the south reportedly still observed it. Northern courts routinely imposed flogging, especially for production of alcohol. "

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Sharia is officially applied only in Northern Sudan; however, some judges in South continued to follow Sharia legal procedures ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19259]

"Shari'a is applied in the north, but not in the south, under the interim constitution. However, some judges in the south reportedly continued to follow Shari'a legal procedures."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Role of Sharia as source of legislation in Northern and Southern Sudan ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17555]

"Shari'a is a source of legislation in the fifteen states of the North. Conversion from Islam to another religion is considered apostasy. Under the CPA, non-Muslims in Khartoum are exempt from penalties prescribed by Shari'a but not from national and state laws based on Shari'a. In addition, the rights of non-Muslims in the capital are to be guaranteed by a special presidential commission, which is expected to assist the government in advising courts on how to apply Shari'a law to non-Muslims. On January 3, 2006, the president announced his intention to create the Commission for the Rights of Non-Muslims in the National Capital; however, by the end of the period covered by this report there had been no presidential decree to create this Commission.Shari'a is no longer a source of legislation in the ten states of the South under the Interim National Constitution and the constitution of Southern Sudan. The region's legal and regulatory framework remains a combination of inherited national law, laws adopted by the Government of Southern Sudan, traditional practice, and provisional decisions."

Document(s): Open document

20.04.2006 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Muslims are allowed to convert to Christianity unless they do it publicly or promote Christianity ("10th European Country of Origin Infomation Seminar Budapest, 1 - 2 December 2005: Final Report on Sudan") [#49770],  [ID 18937]

"Regarding apostasy, the sharia law foresees the death penalty if a Muslim converts to Christianity. The government introduced the law, but some people within the government opposed its implementation. After 1998 the Penal Code was revised and allows Muslims to convert to Christianity unless they do it publicly or promote Christianity. The implementation of sharia law in Sudan is very liberal."

Document(s): Open document