Dokument #1095612
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
2. A 15 October 1989 memorandum sent by
leaders of Christian Churches to the Chairman of the National
Dialogue Conference on Peace Issues, discusses current restrictions
on Christian Churches and their followers in Sudan. [
ENDNOTES:
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts from SPLA Radio, 1 December 1989.]
Since the introduction of Sharia Islamic Laws in 1983, governments
in power have used state organs to facilitate activities of Islamic
organizations. Consequently while the latter are permitted to
utilize the state media apparatus, Christian Churches are denied
access. [ibid.]
Christian Churches report that the
introduction of Sharia has resulted in the imposition of Islamic
customs and traditions on Moslems and non-Moslems alike. To that
end, immigration authorities have reportedly prohibited Christian
women from travelling abroad without the written permission of a
"Muharram", a male guardian. [ibid.]
Meanwhile, the Missionary Societies Act of
1962 has been utilized by the regime to limit activities associated
with Christian Churches in Sudan. Under this act, churches are
closed down and obliged to acquire a reportedly "unattainable"
licence from a government agency to establish worship facilities.
The attached excerpt from Encyclopedia of the Third World
(1987) also reports on church closures. The memorandum further
alleges that an organized campaign against Christians was underway
in Western Sudan, where priests were imprisoned, churches closed
and many Christians were detained. [ibid. BBC 1 December 1989.]
In the legal field, Christian churches are
permitted to administer their own personal laws and customs
pertaining to marriage, divorce, inheritance and the like. However,
in all other areas of civil and criminal law, Christians are
subjected to Sharia Islamic Laws. [ibid., Keesing's Record of
World Events 1989, (London: Longman vol.35 No.1), p.36417.]
There is no information currently available
to the IRBDC regarding the Christian Cultural Organization.
2. IRB Reasons and Decisions on Sudan cases
are currently unavailable to the IRBDC.
For further information regarding
Christians, please refer to the attached excerpts from the
following documents:
Keesing's Record of World Events, News Digest for January
and March 1989, London: Longman, pp.36417-36418., 35617.
George Thomas Kurian, Encyclopedia of the Third World Third
Edition vol.111, New York: Facts On File, Inc., 1987,
pp.1834-1838.
Amnesty International Urgent Action, 28 September 1989, 21
November 1989.
The Associated Press, 15 July 1985.
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts for 18 July 1985, 24 July 1985.
"Rebels Become Chips in Sudanese/Ethiopian Negotiations", the
Manchester Guardian Weekly, 4 August 1985.
Holly Burkhalter, "To Isolate Sudan's Dangerous Leader",
International Herald Tribune, Paris: New York Times Service,
19 January 1990.