Oral statement on human rights in Sudan

UN Human Rights Council: 36th Session

27th September 2017

Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on Sudan: Human Rights in Sudan

Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Speaker: Sini Maria Heikkila

Thank you Mr President

Christian Solidarity Worldwide remains deeply concerned by the human rights situation in Sudan, particularly government restrictions on freedom of religion or belief.

Since September 2016 the Sudanese government has prosecuted religious leaders for ‘crimes against the state’, demolished places of worship and failed to address the legal restrictions to FoRB, such as apostasy and blasphemy legislation, that directly contradict constitutional, regional and international obligations.

In January 2017, a court in Khartoum found Czech national Petr Jasek guilty of espionage, sentencing him to life imprisonment. Two Sudanese men, Reverend Hassan Abdulraheem and Darfuri activist Mr Abdulmonem Abdumawla, were found guilty of assisting Mr Jasek, and were sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.

All three received presidential pardons and are now free; however, their case illustrates the politicisation of the criminal justice system. Serious national security charges have also been levelled at human rights defenders, for example, in the TRACKS trial and the case of Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam.

On 7 May, the last remaining church in Soba Arabi district, Khartoum was demolished by authorities. Witnesses to the demolition were threatened, and two church members arrested. The government’s response to the Independent Expert’s report by listing the mosques demolished within the reporting period, thereby providing evidence of further FoRB violations.

We are deeply concerned by the government’s continuing interference in church affairs. In August, the Ministry of Guidance and Religious Endowments appointed an unelected committee to manage the Sudan Church of Christ’s affairs. Nine church leaders were arrested and accused of trespass for refusing to hand over the church headquarters to the unelected committee. During this Council session on 19 September, another SCOC leader was arrested and added to the case. The Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church has also been resisting similar interference since 2013, when the Ministry of Guidance authorised an illegal committee to act on its behalf, which proceeded to sell church land to private investors.

We call on the Human Rights Council to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert and to pass a resolution that adequately reflects the realities in Sudan, noting the numerous violations occurring there, including of freedom of religion or belief. It is vital that the resolution provides the Independent Expert with an adequate mandate to monitor, verify and report on violations during his mandate period.

Thank you Mr President.