Sudan police raid church in Khartoum North, churchgoers fined

Police forces raided the Evangelical church in Khartoum North this morning, and began demolishing the building. 37 young members of the parish praying in the church were detained. Pastor Yahya Abdelrahim Falo called what happened “a blatant infringement of Christian sanctities, and a humiliation of all Sudanese Christians”. He demanded an immediate halt to the current demolition of the church. “At approximately 6 am this (Tuesday) morning, a police force arrived in nine vehicles, accompanied by bulldozers. They started to demolish the outer walls of the building. Others raided the church, where a group of young Christians were fasting and praying. 37 of them were detained”, Rev. Falo related to Radio Dabanga. ‘Brought to trial’ “The police divided the 37 detainees into three groups,” the pastor continued. “The first group, consisting of nine youngsters, was transported immediately to the Khartoum Bahri Criminal Court. They were each fined with SDG200 ($35) for public disturbance and the obstruction of an official in the performance of his duties.“The 13 young church goers of the second group were brought to trial at the Omar El Mukhtar court at Kober in Khartoum North. Here also each of them was fined with SDG200. The 15 remaining youngsters were tried at the court of El Jireif West, where the judge acquitted them.” ConfiscationsOn 19 November, police and special forces confiscated the house of the senior pastor of the Evangelical church in Khartoum North. They demolished the youth house, showing a court order that ordered the vacation of the premises as investors had reportedly rented the place. In response, leaders from various churches in Khartoum, students, and other church members staged small protests, and prayed in the adjacent church for a peaceful resolution. Since South Sudan’s independence in 2011, several Catholic and Protestant church buildings in Khartoum state were demolished or confiscated by the authorities. The secretary-general of the Sudan Council of Churches, Rev. Kodi El Ramli, told Radio Dabanga early September this year that the Council has received many complaints about harassment and discrimination of Christians. “They are systematically obstructed to visit their churches.” File photo: Women protest at the Evangelical church in Khartoum North, 19 September 2014. The banner reads: “No to fear, no to surrender. The people of the church stand against investment.” Related:Church property confiscated in Khartoum while people pray inside (20 November 2014) ‘Christians harassed in Sudan’: Council of Churches (10 September 2014) Sudan demolishes church in Khartoum (1 July 2014)Sudanese Church of Christ building bulldozed (20 February 2014)