Sudan trial of pastors continuing

On 17 October, another court hearing took place against three pastors and a Christian layman in Khartoum.

Rev. Petr Jasek from Czechia, Nuba pastors Kuwa Shemaal and Hassan Abdelrahim Kodi from South Kordofan, and Darfuri layman Abdelmunim Abdelmoula were detained by agents of the Sudanese security apparatus in 2015 and early this year.

They have been charged with conspiring against the state, espionage, entering and photographing military areas, calling for the use of violence against the authorities, provoking religious hatred, and spreading false information. Several of the charges are punishable by death or life imprisonment.

The hearing on Monday took place under tight security arrangements, the Human Rights and Development Organisation (HUDO) Centre reported on Saturday.

The prosecutor displayed audio and video recordings as evidence. One of the recordings showed a meeting between the three pastors at the home of student Ali Mousa in El Haj Yousef in Khartoum North. Mousa was set on fire after his conversion to Christianity. Rev. Jasek took photos of his burns.

In one of the audio recordings, Rev. Jasek was heard at the Afra Mall in Khartoum asking Abdelmoula why he and Mousa left Islam to become Christians.

The Czech pastor was accused of entering South Kordofan illegally across the border with South Sudanese in 2012. He met with a number of people in the Nuba Mountains, including rebels. During the visit, he reportedly attempted to confirm the oppression, torture, and forced Islamisation of the Nuba people, HUDO states.

Jasek’s second visit to Sudan, on a tourist visa, was in 2015. During this visit he investigated the reason for demolishing a number of churches in the Sudanese capital and the student who was burnt.

At half past two, the investigator requested the judge to adjourn the court session as he was tired. Judge Osama Abdallah granted his request and adjourned the court session for a week.