Sudan: Judicial decision postponed for defendants

The judgement in the case of Reverend Hassan Abduraheem, Mr Petr Jašek and Mr Abdulmonem Abdumawla has been postponed to 29 January.

The presiding judge was expected to deliver his final decision at a hearing on 23 January. However, during today’s hearing it was announced that the decision would be delayed until 29 January.

The three defendants, who have been in prison since December 2015, are charged with several crimes including two national security crimes which carry life imprisonment or the death penalty as maximum sentences. The trial, which started in August 2016, has been subject to several delays and postponements.

The case against the three men centres on the provision of funds for the medical treatment of Mr Ali Omer, who was injured in a student demonstration. Their former co-defendant, Reverend Kuwa Shamal, was released from prison on 2 January 2017, after the trial judge concluded there was no evidence against him and dismissed the charges.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, “We continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Reverend Abduraheem, Mr Jašek and Mr Abdumawla, and are deeply concerned there is yet another delay in a trial that has already been subject to unnecessary postponements and undue delays. These men have committed no crimes and have been detained unjustly for over a year simply for an act of kindness. In addition to requesting their release, CSW is also calling for the Sudanese government to review the NISS’s powers and to end the targeting of religious and ethnic minorities.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Click here to join in CSW’s campaign on this case.