Sudan: fresh appeal against travel ban for clergymen

Lawyers for Reverends Yat Michael and Peter Reith have launched a fresh appeal against their travel ban.

Lawyers for Reverends Yat Michael and Peter Reith have launched a fresh appeal against a travel ban imposed on the pastors after being informed that the prosecution issued the ban but did not file it properly with the court.

There were concerns that the ban had been imposed by Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS). The South Sudanese clergymen’s lawyers were told on 9 August that the courts were unable to hear a petition against the travel ban. However, they were subsequently informed that the prosecution did in fact issue the travel ban but that there was no record of it in the court’s file. They have appealed to the Attorney General but will only receive a decision once the court has made its ruling.

Since Reverends Yat Michael and Peter Reith were released from prison on time served on 5 August they have been prevented from leaving the country.

Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said, “The confusion surrounding this case must not obscure the fact that Reverends Michael and Reith continue to be detained in Sudan against their will after enduring months of mistreatment at the hands of the authorities. We call upon the authorities to remove all obstacles to their departure and to allow them to resume their lives and recover from their incarceration.”