ICC Note: Sudanese authorities have released a pastor and the lawyer who has defended Christians in high-profile death penalty cases in the last few years. Pastor Hafiz Mengisto and Attorney Mohaned Mustafa were acquitted of charges of obstructing government authorities from demolishing a section Bahri Evangelical Church in Khartoum. The incident happened in July when Mustafa attempted to challenge police for illegally destroying part of the church building they didn’t have a permit to destroy. Despite the victory, Christians still face horrific persecution in Sudan. Three church leaders currently sit in jail having been arrested in December and are being held without charge. 

By Carey Lodge

1/6/16 Khartoum, Sudan (Christian Today) – A Sudanese pastor has been found innocent of charges that he had obstructed a court-ordered demolition of his church in Khartoum.

Pastor Hafiz Mengisto of Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church, along with lawyer Mohaned Mustafa, had challenged engineers who tried to take down a building not mentioned in the court order on July 1 last year. The two were arrested, and their trial began on December 14.

The case against Mustafa was dismissed on December 23, and against Mengisto on December 29.

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