Khartoum court convicts South Sudanese for sharing military info

A Khartoum criminal court has sentenced a South Sudanese man to one year imprisonment on charges of disclosing classified and military information. Separately, a criminal court in southern Khartoum will start questioning 27 Sudanese Muslims charged with apostasy.

The man was convicted of borrowing books belonging to the National Security and Intelligence Service (NISS) from a South Sudanese general of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) for the purpose of sharing them to a group of South Sudanese in Khartoum. He was charged under article 55 of the Sudanese Criminal Law.

A prosecutor said the man was found teaching intelligence and security methods to South Sudanese affiliated to the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) without permission from the authorities. The accused confessed before judge Osama Ahmed Abdallah.

Apostasy

This (Wednesday) morning, a criminal court in southern Khartoum started questioning 27 Sudanese Muslims charged with apostasy.

The men were held at a market in southern Khartoum on 2 November, as they spread their belief that the Holy Koran is the sole source of religious legitimacy. All other Islamic texts are rejected.

They were charged with disturbing the public order, and with apostasy under Article 126 of Sudanese Criminal Law. If convicted of apostasy, the defendants could face the death penalty under the Sharia Muslim law that has been in place in Sudan since 1983.

Osman Eisa, a member of the defence team, told Radio Tamazuj that the court heard the prosecutor’s case against the men last week.

He pointed out that the 27 accused would be questioned today. The lawyer indicated that his clients are still sticking to their conviction.

Eisa argued that the Sudanese Interim Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and worship. He noted that the court would decide whether to proceed with the case or not after the questioning.