FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 
02/02/2017 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on Sunday, January 29, three Christians were sentenced by the Sudanese court in North Khartoum for charges including spying, entering Sudan without a visa, inciting hatred, photographing military installations, and publishing fake news. Reverend Hassan Abduraheem was sentenced to 12 years, Mr Abdumonem Abdumawla was sentenced to 12 years, and Petr Jasek was sentenced to 20 years.
 
Petr Jasek is a Czech national, and Abdumawla and Abduraheem are citizens of South Sudan. They were detained for eight months without being formally charged in December of 2015. Their detainment centered on a receipt that linked them to helping a burn victim who was wounded in demonstrations in 2013. The list of charges against them quickly grew exponentially.
 
The Czech government has rejected the ruling as groundless and insists that there is no evidence for this harsh sentence.
 
The sentencing sent out shockwaves through the Christian community of Sudan and South Sudan. A pastor in the region told ICC, “The community of Christians in Sudan and South Sudan is very disappointed by the verdict given on Sunday. The three brothers in the Lord deserve better. They have families and churches to take care of and we are joining hands together as Christians to fast and pray and we shall not stop knocking until they are released.”
 
According to some, persecution against Christians is increasing in Sudan. As one Christian who lived in Sudan told ICC, “The pain that Christians go through in Sudan is nothing close to what we hear or read in websites. Christian persecution has been increasing rapidly in Khartoum and we ask the international community to come in full swing and help.”
 
A strong majority of Sudanese citizens are Muslim and the Sudanese government has taken an aggressive approach against Christian ministries within its borders. The sentencing of these three Christian foreigners sends a signal on Khartoum’s stance on religious freedom: it is unwanted. Still, many are joining in prayer for the release of their brothers in Khartoum and for opportunities to share the Gospel in Sudan.
 
One of the pastors who was imprisoned with them but has since been released told ICC, “Our brothers in South Sudan have been praying and we shall continue praying until justice is done. These sentences are hostile to the Church and a stumbling block to the spreading of the Gospel in Sudan and also at the border of Sudan and South Sudan.”
 
Daniel Harris, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “International Christian Concern strongly condemns this harsh sentence based on fabricated charges. These three men have done nothing to deserve punishment. Instead, they have worked tirelessly to provide humanitarian aid in Sudan. This sentencing is the ‘death knell’ for human rights and religious freedom in Sudan. We strongly encourage Sudan to release these foreigners and allow religious freedom for its citizens.”