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CSW
World News

Churches destroyed in Sudan

Earlier this month a building in Omdurman, which was used by both Lutheran and Lutheran Evangelical Churches, was demolished.

Members of the churches were told just a day earlier that the building was being knocked down as part of development plans for the area.

Church representatives were later given reassurance that the building would not be demolised but nevertheless bulldozers arrived at the premises the next day. It's claimed a mosque directly opposite was left standing.

It's also reported an Evangelical Lutheran Church was the target of an arson attack in Gadaref. All furniture and Bibles inside were destroyed. The incident has been referred to local police.

The two incidents are the latest in a series of attacks on churches in Sudan where it's claimed systematic government restrictions on the rights and freedoms of religious minorities primarily target the Christian faith.

Anti-persecution charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is raising concern over the incidents.

Kiri Kankhwende, from CSW, told Premier: "They [Christians] are a minority in a Muslim-majority country, and the government has started deliberately targeting them. The demolishing of churches, ensuring that no new churches can be built by not issuing building permits, but we've also had pastors who've been arrested.

"They [the Sudanese government] can't be trusted. The church was actually issued a written notice [promising its protection]. It just shows that the law is not consistent when it comes to Christians in Sudan, and that rule of law is worthless.

"We haven't seen any perpetrators of these sort of arson attacks or attacks on Christians brought to justice. This fosters an atmosphere of impunity - people know they can get away with attacking Christians.

"We're calling for the attack on the church which that burnt down to be investigated... But we're also calling on the government to respect it's own laws.

"Freedom of religion and belief is actually protected in the constitution. We're asking Sudan to obey its own laws and the international that it has signed up to and allow Christians to live without harassment, discrimination or persecution in the country."

Listen to Premier's Aaron James speaking to Kiri Kankhwende here:

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