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

Restrictions against Christians and Christian activities in 2007 ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24782]

"The Government favored Muslims over Christians in the north in part by funding the construction of mosques but not churches.

Many southern Christians living in the north are economic migrants, and due to many factors, they suffer from social, educational, and job discrimination. [...]

The Government restricted foreigners from entering the country expressly for Christian missionary work, but it did permit foreign Christian religious leaders to enter in support of their local congregations.

The Humanitarian Affairs Committee routinely expelled foreign workers of international aid organizations, although several U.S.-based Christian aid organizations maintained large operations throughout the north.

The National Intelligence and Security Service routinely monitored religious activities at mosques and churches throughout the country, often posing as members of the congregations.

Christian leaders acknowledged that they usually refrain from preaching on political or other sensitive topics.

Some Muslim imams avoided political topics in their preaching as well.

The GoSS did not appear to monitor religious activities at mosques or churches in the South."

Document(s): Open document

19.09.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Harassment of Christians in 2007 ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24784]

"In November 2007 a British national teaching at a Christian school in Khartoum was held briefly and threatened with imprisonment and corporal punishment for acceding to her students' suggestion to name a class teddy bear after the Prophet Muhammad.

Some government officials organized a street protest against the Briton, but President Bashir pardoned her, and several days after the incident she was permitted to depart the country.

In July 2007 a Catholic priest was jailed and held without charges for 3 days in connection with an investigation regarding a Khartoum woman who had planned to convert to Christianity.

The priest was questioned about the woman's disappearance until the woman reported she had run away from home."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Security forces harass and threaten persons on basis of religious beliefs and activities: police raid Episcopal Church of Sudan Diocese; British teacher charged with "abuse of religion" and deported ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23223]

"There were reports that security forces harassed and at times threatened to use violence against persons on the basis of religious beliefs and activities; it was unclear whether the harassment was for religious or political reasons.

For example, on January 1, police raided the seat of the Episcopal Church of Sudan Diocese of Khartoum with tear gas, injuring six worshippers. The raid occurred during an annual prayer service to mark the coming of the New Year.

In December 2007, Gillian Gibbons, a British teacher at a private elementary school in Khartoum, was arrested on the general charge of "abuse of religion" under Shari'a law after permitting young students in her class to name a teddy bear Mohammed.

The specific charges against her were blasphemy, inciting religious hatred, showing contempt for religious beliefs, and insulting Islam.

She was convicted of insulting Islam, then pardoned and deported."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Discrimination against Christians: Harassment by authorities, social, educational, job discrimination, situation of Christian media, attacks on Christians ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21256]

"The Government favored Muslims over Christians in the North. Many southern Christians living in the North suffered from social, educational, and job discrimination, although religion was only one of the many factors leading to discrimination. [...]

The National Intelligence and Security Service routinely monitored religious activities at mosques and churches throughout the country, often posing as members of the congregations.

Christian leaders acknowledged that they usually refrain from preaching on political or other sensitive topics to avoid harassment by the authorities, although some Christian leaders used the CPA as a vehicle for religious instruction and a point of common understanding among congregants. Some Muslim imams avoided political topics in their preaching as well. [...]

There are no formal prohibitions on the local publication, importation, or dissemination of religious texts, and copies of the Qur'an and Bible are commonly available throughout the country, both North and South. Newspapers commonly print sermons and other religious articles, and the Episcopal Church of Sudan operates a religious bookstore in central Khartoum.

However, newspaper editors continued to self-censor articles on controversial religious topics.

Public preaching and processions were allowed throughout the country. [...] However, Christian leaders said that they were cautious about preaching outside of their churches or leading public processions; they usually limited these activities to Christmas and Easter celebrations. [...]

On January 1, 2007, police raided the seat of the Episcopal Church of Sudan Diocese of Khartoum with tear gas, injuring six worshippers.

The raid occurred during an annual prayer service to mark the coming of the New Year and marked the first time since the signing of the 2005 CPA that authorities in Sudan have disrupted a religious gathering."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

No restitution or compensation for confiscated church property ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19265]

"There were numerous ongoing disputes between the government and various churches involving confiscated church property. There were no reports of court ordered property restitution or compensation."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Khartoum: All Saints' Episcopal Cathedral raided by police; use and construction of houses of worship requires government approval ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19395]

"On December 31, police in Khartoum raided All Saints' Episcopal Cathedral in Khartoum during a New Year's Eve prayer service, firing tear gas into the congregation. Six worshippers were wounded, one seriously.

The use and construction of houses of worship required government approval. Applications to build mosques generally were granted in practice, but applying to build churches was more difficult. According to the Sudan Inter-Religious Council, the government issued two permits during the year for the construction of new churches, but church officials reported that they never received the permits. As a substitute, the construction of small churches continued with owners registering the land for personal rather than church use. "

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Discrimination against Christians ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17552]

"The GNU continued to discriminate against Christians in the North, particularly by denying building permits for new churches. The national government required that all students in the North study Islam in school, whether or not they were Muslim, and even if enrolled in private, Christian schools. By the end of the period covered by this report, the presidency had not appointed the Commission for the Rights of Non-Muslims in the national capital. [...]

The GNU restricted where Christians in the North were permitted to worship and how they were permitted to practice. Obtaining permits to build new churches remained a long and tortuous process, despite recent improvements. There were still several outstanding requests from previous years, and it was not clear whether any new permits were requested during the reporting period. In addition, according to some Christian leaders, the GNU had pressured existing churches in central Khartoum to move to less conspicuous locations on the outskirts of the capital, and it preferred to keep new Christian facilities outside the city center. Some Christians believed this approach to be a less public, less confrontational alternative to the previous government's practice of confiscating church property.

The GNU promoted the spread of Islam through mandatory Islamic education for all students in the North, even non-Muslims enrolled in private, Christian schools. Christian leaders believed that these requirements not only exacerbated problems in the relationship between the Muslim majority and the Christian minority but further marginalized the place of Christianity in northern society. The Catholic Church in particular faced a shortage of priests, which it attributed to a lack of Christian religious education. At the same time, the Government continued to restrict conversions from Islam to other faiths, which is officially considered apostasy. On May 14, 2006, an Episcopal priest and three other Christians were arrested after meeting with a Muslim woman who wanted to convert to Christianity. They were released after several days. [...]

Although the GNU has not banned any specific religious group, it favored Islam over Christianity in the North. Many southern Christians living in the North suffered from social, educational, and job discrimination, although religion was only one of the many factors leading to discrimination.

"

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Missionary activities ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17554]

"The GNU officially permits foreign missionary groups in both North and South, although in practice Christian missionaries were largely confined to the South or to existing Christian communities in the North, due to Shari'a (Islamic law), strong social pressure against proselytizing, and existing laws against apostasy. [...]

Proselytizing by any religious group in the country is not prohibited, though strong Muslim social pressures in the north against proselytizing and Shari'a penalties for apostasy that are part of the North's legal code, effectively limit Christian missionary activities in the region. Some foreign missionary groups operated in the North, though their work is officially limited to education or services to southern Christian IDPs. Missionaries also continued to operate in the South, running relief operations, medical clinics, and churches. Many Christian religious workers experienced delays in getting visas, though this is common for almost all visa applicants from Western countries. The government also controls travel to certain areas in the North by requiring all foreigners to have travel permits."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Property: Ability to acquire property, building permissions for churches, confiscation of church property ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17556]

"There are no restrictions on religious groups' ability to acquire property, but all groups are required to obtain permits from the national Ministry of Guidance and Endowments, the state Ministry of Construction and Planning, and the local planning office before constructing new houses of worship. However, this requirement did not appear to be enforced in the South. Enforcement in the North was sporadic and not as strict as it was several years ago. Permits for new mosques in the North are generally issued, although Muslim leaders complained the process was cumbersome and time-consuming. Moreover, according to Christian leaders, permits for new churches have been either denied outright or delayed for years. However, according to the SIRC, the Khartoum State Ministry of Planning and Public Utilities issued a permit for a new Episcopal church at Al Hazari, Khartoum, on July 23, 2005, and a permit for a new Church of Christ place of worship at Al Thawra, Omdurman, on May 24, 2006; these appeared to be the first permits issued for a new church since 1975. The ministry was also reported to be in the process of approving other permits, including one for a Catholic church at Al Bakara, Khartoum. However, other obstacles remained, including a group of squatters preventing work on the new Episcopal church site at Al Hazari, and many Christian leaders remained skeptical that the Government would allow new churches to be built. [...]

Though the Government has issued two permits for new churches in suburban Khartoum, some Christian leaders believe the GNU has continued the previous regime's attempts to drive churches and other Christian institutions out of the capital's center. Previous governments routinely confiscated church property in the city, most notably the former All Saints Episcopal Cathedral (1971) and the Catholic Club (1998). Episcopal Church of Sudan officials alleged that the NCP government prompted the 2004 sale of the Church's Khartoum headquarters and guesthouse by a dissident Episcopal bishop. According to Episcopal and Catholic officials, the Government has yet to provide adequate compensation for all confiscated church property, though the Sudan Inter-Religious Council has helped both churches reclaim some properties in Omdurman and suburban Khartoum. [...]

Some Christian leaders have accused the GNU of pressuring churches to sell their older properties in central Khartoum by offering them a high sales price, but denying the churches permission to redevelop the properties themselves and take advantage of the booming real estate market. Other church officials allege that once a church has bought land in a particular residential area for possible future construction, the Government will re-zone the area for industrial or commercial use, or plan to build a road through the church's property. These officials see such tactics as the new government's less public, less confrontational alternative to confiscating church property."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

4 Christian leaders reportedly arrested after meeting with Muslim woman who wanted to convert to Christianity ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17564]

"In May 2006, there were reports that four Christian leaders, including an Episcopal priest and a Catholic priest, were arrested after meeting with a Muslim woman who wanted to convert to Christianity. All four were denied access to legal counsel for two days; three were beaten by officers of the National Intelligence and Security Service before being released. The woman was not charged with apostasy, but was returned to her family despite some concerns that they would beat her."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Pressure on non-Muslims to convert to Islam ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17565]

"Although there is no evidence of forced conversions in the period covered by this report, there is considerable social pressure for non-Muslims in the North to convert to Islam. The President of the Republic frequently ended his public speeches with a call for victory over the "infidels," and state media outlets routinely referred to Christians as "non-believers." Christian parents reported that their children enrolled in public school were commonly asked why they are not Muslims. There were reports that Sudanese Armed Forces in the South were rewarding Southerners who convert to Islam and inducing non-Muslims in the military to convert to Islam in advance of the 2011 referendum on Southern independence."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Representation of Christians in public positions ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17567]

"The Interim National Constitution and the constitution of Southern Sudan specifically prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion for candidates for the National Civil Service, though Muslims have traditionally been chosen for these positions over Christians. However, with the creation of the GNU in July 2005, Christians are represented in the Vice Presidential and Cabinet level of the national government for the first time since independence. There has also been a marked increase in the number of Christian members in the National Assembly and the Council of States. There are many Christian lawyers in the North, and several Christian judges for civil law cases involving non-Muslims."

Document(s): Open document

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

Although Sudanese are generally tolerant, there is discrimination against Christians ("10th European Country of Origin Infomation Seminar Budapest, 1 - 2 December 2005: Final Report on Sudan") [#49770],  [ID 18934]

"Over 2 million Christians, mostly IDPs, live in Khartoum. They form a huge community and know how to defend their interests and religious practices. However, there is discrimination against Christians on a daily basis. For example, in a theft case that occurred in a house were Arabs and IDPs lived side by side, IDPs from the South were arrested and detained for two months, even thought the police knew that an Arab was suspicious and should have been interrogated.
However, in Sudan, the distinction between Christians and Muslims is not very important, as the Sudanese are very open and tolerant. But this government has been trying to point out the differences between religious groups. [...]
There is discrimination, but it is difficult to detect. In the school system, for example, Christian students are forced to wear the head scarf, but they can have their own Christian education. They are allegedly discriminated against in terms of grades, but that is very difficult to verify. Other discrimination is related to the IDP situation: There are very little schools available for IDPs, and those few existing follow the Islamic state curriculum. The morals and laws of the country are affected by the Islamist ideology, which victimises Christians in many respects. Additionally, accusations of prostitution or adultery are more often waged against Christian than Muslim women."

Document(s): Open document

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

Southern Sudan: Most Christians worship freely and openly ("10th European Country of Origin Infomation Seminar Budapest, 1 - 2 December 2005: Final Report on Sudan") [#49770],  [ID 18935]

"Traditional Christian communities were targeted by the Bashir regime and have left Sudan. Many Copts emigrated in the early 1990s after a couple of prominent Copts were executed. Most Greeks left during the Numeiri regime which nationalised and destroyed many Greek businesses. There are some Copts and Greeks left, but today most Christians in Khartoum originate from the South and are Catholics, Anglicans or belong to various other denominations. They worship freely and openly."

Document(s): Open document