19.09.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Converting from Islam to another religion is punishable by imprisonment and even death in the North; a death sentence for apostasy has never been carried out by the current government ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24775]

"Although there is no penalty for converting from another religion to Islam, converting from Islam to another religion is punishable by imprisonment and even death in the north;

however, a death sentence for apostasy has never been carried out by the current Government."

Document(s): Open document

19.09.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Northern Sudan: Blasphemy and defaming religion are punishable by imprisonment; converts are occasionally subjected to intense scrutiny, ostracism, intimidation, or are encouraged to leave the country ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24776]

"Blasphemy and defaming religion are punishable by imprisonment in the north, although these restrictions are rarely enforced.

Authorities in the north occasionally subject converts to intense scrutiny, ostracism, intimidation, or encourage them to leave the country.

In the south, there are no penalties for apostasy, blasphemy, or defaming religion, and proselytizing is common."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Converts occasionally subjected to scrutiny, ostracism and intimidation; no evidence of forced conversion to Islam in 2007 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23224]

"While the law permits non Muslims to convert to Islam, conversion by a Muslim is punishable by death.

Authorities occasionally subjected converts to intense scrutiny, ostracism, intimidation, or encouraged them to leave the country; however, there were no reports of conversion punished by death.

Although some non-Muslims converted to Islam to obtain or keep a job, for promotions and job advancement, or for other social services or benefits, there was no evidence of forced conversions during the year."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

North Sudan: Converting from Islam to another religion is punishable by death; converts are regarded as outcasts, face social pressure to recant ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21257]

"Although there is no penalty for converting from another religion to Islam, converting from Islam to another religion is punishable by death in the North. This practice has never been carried out by the current Government.

Muslims in the North who attempt to convert to another faith, however, are generally regarded as outcasts by their families and face severe social pressure to recant. [...]

Muslims in the North who express an interest in Christianity or convert to Christianity face severe social pressure to recant. Muslim converts to Christianity are typically regarded as outcasts by their families and are sometimes forced to flee the country.

Some Christian converts fear their Muslim families will beat them or report them to authorities for prosecution, although others note that many Muslim families are too embarrassed to draw public attention to the matter. [...]

In May 2006 officers of the National Intelligence and Security Service detained and beat Christian leaders who met with a Muslim woman who wanted to convert to Christianity. The Government did not charge the woman with apostasy, and she returned to her family."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Converts subjected to intense scrutiny, intimidation or told to leave country; no evidence of forced conversions or conversion punished by death in 2006 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19397]

"While the law permits non Muslims to convert to Islam, conversion by a Muslim is punishable by death. In practice authorities occasionally subjected converts to intense scrutiny, ostracism, intimidation, or encouraged them to leave the country; however, there were no reports of conversion punished by death.

In May 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 leaders were denied access to legal counsel for two days; three were beaten by NISS officers before being released. The woman was not charged with apostasy.

Although some non-Muslims converted to Islam to obtain or keep a job, for promotions and job advancement, or for other social services or benefits, there was no evidence of forced conversions during the year. "

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Restrictions on conversion from Islam to other faiths ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17558]

"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 there is no penalty for converting from another religion to Islam, converting from Islam to another religion is considered apostasy under Shari'a, and is punishable by death in the North. In practice, however, this penalty was rarely carried out. The last case of apostasy was prosecuted in 1985, and involved a Muslim who questioned Muslim beliefs but did not attempt to convert to another religion. Muslims in the North who do attempt to convert to another faith, however, were generally regarded as outcasts by their families and face severe social pressure to recant. [...]

Muslims in the North, who express an interest in Christianity, or convert to Christianity, face severe social pressure to recant. Muslim converts to Christianity are typically regarded as outcasts by their families, and are sometimes forced to flee the country. Some Christian converts fear their Muslim families will beat them or report them to authorities for prosecution, though others note that many Muslim families were too embarrassed to draw public attention to the matter. [...]

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

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

Situation of converts ("10th European Country of Origin Infomation Seminar Budapest, 1 - 2 December 2005: Final Report on Sudan") [#49770],  [ID 18936]

"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.
While the Penal Code says that a person who has converted will not be prosecuted unless he does propaganda, converts in fact are harassed by security officials who want to show that conversion has consequences within an Islamic society. According to their opinion, nobody has the right to convert from Islam. For example, there was a case of a young man who converted to Christianity and was arrested by the security and tortured very badly, although he had not made his conversion public or made propaganda for it. He was harassed on a regular basis, the security officers came to his home almost every night. We succeeded to bring this young man to Canada as a refugee."

Document(s): Open document