Two Christian pastors and another man appeared in a Sudanese court on Sunday accused of at least seven crimes including waging war against the state and espionage, both of which carry the death penalty, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
The UK-based religious freedom advocacy reported that Rev Hassan Abduraheem, a senior minister and vice moderator of the Sudan Church of Christ, Rev Kuwa Shamal, a senior minister and head of the Sudan Church of Christ missions committee, and Abdulmonem Abdumawla were presented with the evidence against them during a four hour hearing.
Morning Star News reports that Rev Abduraheem denied all charges against him and quote a relative of one of the men as saying there is no evidence against him. They also quoted a defence attorney who said the defence team was “100 per cent ready to defend our clients”.
Several church leaders were permitted access to the court which outside the courthouse about 100 Christians from Khartoum, representing various denominations, gathered to sing hymns.
Rev Abduraheem and Mr Abdumawla have been detained since December last year while Rev Shamal has been held since May 2016. CSW said the case against Rev Abduraheem and Mr Abdumawla revolves around a request for assistance with medical costs from a Darfuri man, named as Ali Omer, who was left with severe burns after he was injured during a demonstration at a university. Mr Abdumawla, a friend of the man, apparently began collecting funds for his medical treatment including from Rev Abduraheem. CSW added that the case against Rev Shamal appeared to be related to his friendship with Rev Abduraheem and his senior position in the Sudan Church of Christ.
Concerns have been raised about the men’s reported lack of access to their lawyer after being transferred to Al-Huda Prison earlier this month. CSW reports that there are also concerns surrounding the transport of the men from prison to court hearings, particularly after they failed to appear at the first hearing last week.
Mervyn Thomas, chief executive of CSW, said it is “wholly unacceptable” that the trial has proceeded given that the defendants “have had limited access to their legal team”.
He called on the Sudanese Government “to ensure that the trial is conducted with respect to ‘fair trial principles’, which includes, at the minimum, ensuring that the men have regular access to legal representatives and family members, and are present at every hearing”.
“We are also deeply concerned by the use of serious criminal charges against Reverend Abduraheem and Mr Abdumawla simply for seeking to assist with medical expenses, and against Reverend Shamal merely for being a Christian and a friend of Reverend Abdulraheem,” Mr Thomas said.
“We urge the government to end the harassment and targeting of religious and ethnic minorities by the security services, and to uphold the civil rights of all Sudanese citizens.”
Morning Star News also reports that the court appears to be trying to package the case of Omer and the two pastors together with that of a fourth defendant, 52-year-old Petr Jasek, a Christian from the Czech Republic whom NISS accuses of entering the country illegally in October of last year, espionage and tarnishing the country’s image with reports saying Christians in Sudan are being persecuted.
– with Morning Star News
