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

19.09.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Northern Sudan: Government generally does not respect religious plurality and favours members of its political and tribal clique ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24781]

"Although the Government generally did not vigorously enforce its strictest restrictions on religious freedom, it does not generally respect religious plurality in the north. [...]

Overwhelmingly Muslim in composition, the ruling NCP favors members of its political and tribal clique.

Opposition political parties, often composed of adherents of different Sufi sects and non-Arab northern Muslims, are systematically excluded from the political process and national policymaking.

Although the INC and the Constitution of Southern Sudan specifically prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion for candidates for the National Civil Service, the selection process favored party members and friends of the NCP."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Non-Muslims in government controlled IDP camps indoctrinated in Islamic faith, harassed, discriminated and pressured to convert to Islam ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19398]

"PDF trainees, including non Muslims, were indoctrinated in the Islamic faith. In prisons and juvenile detention facilities, government officials and government supported Islamic NGOs pressured and offered inducements, such as early release, to non Muslim inmates to convert. Some persons in government controlled camps for IDPs reportedly were pressured to convert to Islam. Children, including non Muslim children, in camps for vagrant minors were required to study the Koran, and there was pressure on non Muslim children to convert to Islam. [...]

Under the state-mandated curriculum, all schools in the north-- including private schools operated by Christian groups--are required to teach Islamic education classes from preschool through university. Some public schools excused non-Muslims from Islamic education classes, but others did not. [...]

Some non-Muslim businessmen complained of petty harassment and discrimination in awarding of government contracts and trade licenses. Christians reported pressure on their children in school; teachers and media characterized non-Muslims as nonbelievers. There also were reports that some Muslims received preferential treatment regarding limited government services, such as access to medical care, and in court cases involving Muslim against non-Muslim."

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

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Marriage between non-Muslims and Muslims ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46041],  [ID 12374]

"Since, under Islamic law, a non-Muslim woman takes on the religion of her husband at marriage, a Muslim man may marry a Christian or Jew, and their children will be considered Muslim. The same is not true for a Muslim woman, who cannot legally marry a non-Muslim unless he converts to Islam. This prohibition usually was neither observed nor enforced in areas of the South or among Nubans (most of whom are Muslims)."

Document(s): Open document