ICC Note

Sudan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Gharib Allah Khidir stated in a release that the U.S. decision to keep Sudan on the Countries of Particular Concern list is inconsistent with the praise received by Sudan. This list is a designation by the U.S. that says that a country has engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. Khidir pointed to statements by religious leader, and the U.S. diplomats that have travelled to Sudan as proof that the country is religiously free. However, he failed to mention the25 churches that are being taken over in the Capital city, the eviction of pastors from homes, and the governmental ban on bibles being imported and sold. All of these and more, show that the government is complicit in religious persecution.

2018-01-08 Sudan (SudanTribune) The U.S. Secretary of State annually designates governments that have engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom as “Countries of Particular Concern”.

“Today, the Department of State announces that the Secretary of State re-designated Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan as Countries of Particular Concern on December 22, 2017” said the U.S. Department of State spokesperson Heather Nauert in a press statement on Friday

In a press release on Sunday, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Gharib Allah Khidir said the U.S. announcement is inconsistent with the praise received by Sudan from many symbols and leaders of the world religious institutions.

“Most notably the Archbishop of Canterbury as well as the Commissioner of Religious Freedom in the European Union and the U.S. Congress delegation [which visited Sudan]” read the press release.

The spokesman also pointed to the visit of the U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, Ian Turner, and the head of the Ethiopian Church, who visited the church of the Ethiopian community in Sudan and praised the level of security, freedom and respect for the rights of Christians in Sudan.

He added the reception of these religious delegations underscores Sudan’s confidence which emanates from an extended history of coexistence and tolerance among various religions and races.

Khidir pointed out that Sudan allows large freedoms to its citizens, foreign residents and refugees to practice their religious rights and rituals through 844 churches which manage 319 educational institutions and 173 cultural and health centres.

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