Czech Christian Petr Jašek is being tried alongside three men in Sudan according to UK-based religious freedom advocacy, Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
The group confirmed in a statement late last week that Mr Jašek is being tried jointly with Rev Hassan Abduraheem, Rev Kuwa Shamal and Abdulmonem Abdumawla. Mr Jašek is charged with the propagation of false news as well as including waging war against the state and espionage, which carry the death penalty as the maximum sentence.
As with Rev Abduraheem and Mr Abdumawla, the case against Mr Jašek centres on the provision of finances for the medical treatment of Mr Ali Omer, a young man from Darfur who was injured in a demonstration in 2013. Mr Jašek became involved in the matter after hearing of Mr Omer’s plight at a Christian conference in late 2015 – also attended by two of his co-accused – and pledging to provide finances for his treatment.
CSW said Mr Jašek was arrested in December last year as he attempted to leave the country. The prosecution have alleged that $US5,000 Mr Jašek donated to Mr Omer’s treatment was actually support for rebel movements in the South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur regions.
CSW has urged the Sudanese Government to drop charges against all of the men without delay.
