Assaults Against Christianity Intensify in Sudan

On 5 July, a car with darkened windows blocked a vehicle carrying Mr. Boutros Badawi, an advisor to Sudan’s Minister of Guidance and Religious Endowments, as he was traveling home. An assailant pointed a gun at Mr. Badawi’s head and threatened to kill him if he continued to issue posts on social media about the government’s delay in addressing and resolving injustices experienced by the Christian community: seizures of church property, interference in the registration certificates for church property and the recognition of legitimate church committees and their management of church affairs. During the Bashir regime, the State regularly abused its power to restrict the rights of Christians.

It appears that the current administration is continuing to crack down on religious institutions and any efforts being made in the name of Jesus Christ. Earlier this year, Osama Saeed Musa Kodi, the president of a Christian youth organization, was detained in Wad Madani in Gezira state. He was told that Christianity is evil and alleged that he was trying to brainwash Sudanese citizens. He was ordered to stop any efforts to rebuild a church that was destroyed in an arson attack and was told that he could be killed if he did not comply. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) issued a statement saying, “We are deeply concerned by this appalling attack on a civil servant, simply for raising legitimate concerns about ongoing injustices and systematic discrimination experienced by the Christian community.” It went on to add that the attack was “disturbingly reminiscent” of the former regime and must be thoroughly investigated and its perpetrators prosecuted.

It remains to be seen whether the Christian community in Sudan have the will, and the resources to actively protest and advocate for their rights. According to Philosopher John Stuart Mill, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” History can attest to this fact as notably observed in the rise of the Nazis and their atrocities in World War II. May that not be the case for Sudan’s Christian community.

Let us pray fervently for:

  • Sudanese Christian Believers to fervently and continually appeal to God Almighty to intervene on their behalf as they and their churches are under attack and intimidation by government authorities (The Bible, 1 Timothy 2:1-4).
  •  You, Readers of this Emergency Prayer Request, to stop right now and pray for this attack on Christian worship and freedom in Sudan, to be thwarted, and to share this request with your Christian community so that many voices will join together as we beseech our Heavenly Father for help (The Bible, 1 Peter 3:12).
  •  The perpetrators of church persecution to fall into the pits that have built to ensnare Christian Believers (The Bible, Psalm 7:15).

Sources:

  • Twitter Facebook: Christian advisor to Minister of Guidance and Religious Endowments attacked by armed men

Photo Credit: Hasan Almasi, Unsplash.com