Petr Jasek Released After Facing a 20-Year Sentence in a Sudanese Prison

2/27/2017 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Czech citizen, Petr Jasek, was released and returned to the Czech Republic after being imprisoned since December 2015. Two other Sudanese nationals, Pastor Abduraheem and Mr. Abdumawla, remain in prison under numerous false charges stemming from Jasek’s actions to aid Christians in the country.
Petr Jasek and the other men were originally charged after Jasek provided a donation for medical aid to a Sudanese Christian who was injured during a demonstration. The government falsely accused them of espionage and inciting hatred. The international community condemned Sudan’s actions and pressured the government for the release of Jasek and the other men imprisoned with him.  In December 2016, ICC led a letter with the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, signed by more than 40 individuals and organizations calling for Petr’s release.
Despite the release of Jasek, Pastor Abduraheem and Mr. Abdumawla remain in prison. Pastor Peter Reith, who was imprisoned in Sudan in 2015, stated of the release, “We praise God for the release of Petr Jasek and it is a good step towards harmonization of human rights in Sudan.  It is my prayer that the president of Sudan, Omar Bashir, will pardon Pastor Abduraheem and Abdumawla who have been sentenced for 12 years because of helping Christians in South Kordofan.  I thank God for answering the prayers the saints have been offering to God since 2015 when these brothers were detained.”
Such persecution is all too common in Sudan. The imprisonment of these men is the latest in a long history of imprisonment of Christians in Sudan.   With the recent release of Petr Jasek, International Christian Concern is hopeful that the release of Abduraheem and Abdumawla will be imminent.
ICC’s Advocacy Director, Isaac Six, states, “After months of prayer and advocacy work, we are elated by the news that Petr Jasek is on his way home to the Czech Republic.  The imprisonment of Petr and the other Sudanese Christians is completely baseless and a clear violation of human rights and religious liberty.  We are hopeful that Pastor Abduraheem and Abdumawla will be released very soon, and while we celebrate Petr’s freedom, we continue to work for their release as well.”