By Stoyan Zaimov
The government of Sudan has reaffirmed that it is banning the construction of all new Christian churches in the Muslim-dominated country, prompting “deep concern” from a persecution watchdog group.
“We are deeply concerned by Minister Shalil Abdullah’s statement reaffirming the policy to deny new church permits. This policy, and the continued practice of demolishing and confiscating church land, constitutes a violation of the right to freedom of religion or belief, guaranteed in article 6 and 38 of Sudan’s Interim Constitution as well as article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Sudan is signatory,” Andy Dipper, Chief Operating Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said in a statement on Wednesday (July 16).
Abdullah, the Sudanese Minister for Guidance and Religious Endowments, reportedly explained that due to the country’s separation from South Sudan, where many Christians have fled, the existing churches in the Republic of Sudan are sufficient for the nation’s minority Christians.
CSW noted, however, that the Christian community in Sudan continue to face “increased harassment” from the government, with church buildings being demolished with little notice and church properties vandalized with impunity.Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/sudan-bans-construction-of-all-new-christian-churches-123424/