14 church members charged with obstructing police

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has learned that 14 members and leaders of the Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church who were arrested for demonstrating against the seizure of the church’s training school on 7 July were convicted at the Khartoum Bahri criminal court on 10 July.

One person was convicted of “obstructing the police” and “breaching the public peace” and ordered to pay a fine of 500 Sudanese Pounds around US$82). The rest of the group was convicted of “obstructing the police” and ordered to pay a fine of 300 Sudanese Pounds (around US$49) each. The group was released immediately following the trial.

CSW reported on the arrests in a press release issued earlier today.

Commenting on the update, Dr Khataza Gondwe, CSW’s Africa and Middle East Team Leader said “We are deeply concerned by these convictions, which amount to official restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly, as articulated in article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Sudan is party. We urge the Sudanese government to end its campaign of harassment and interference in church affairs, to ensure these convictions are overturned and to uphold its obligations under international law to promote, respect and protect the rights to freedom of religion or belief and to peaceful assembly.”