Rafat Samir, chair of the Evangelical Community Council, which is a Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church committee, replaced Hamad Muhammad Salah.
However, according to Christian Charity Middle East Concern, Salah complained to the government, which "reinstated" him even though the government has no legal authority to appoint someone to a church committee.
The charity claimed Salah began selling property belonging to the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church to businessmen aligned with the government, against the wishes of the church.
In 2016 an administrative court ruled that Samir was the legal chair of the Community Council.
Salah has since accused Samir and his assistant Daniel Williams of trespassing, criminal possession of illegally impersonating the chair of the Community Council, which has led to the charges Samir faces.
Middle East Concern requested the following prayers to be made:
- That government efforts to confiscate church properties will cease, together with efforts to demolish church buildings belonging to other denominations
- For wisdom and peace for Rafat Samir, Daniel Williams and their lawyer during the legal proceedings
- That the judge will act fairly, recognise Rafat Samir as the chair of the committee, and acquit the two men of all the charges against them
- That Sudanese Christians will experience the peace of the Lord, and for an end to the pressures against them
Samir will appear before the Criminal Court in Bahri, Khartoum North on 17th July 2017.
