‘Civil disobedience not allowed in Islam”: Sudan Scholars

The Sudan Scholars’ Corporation has denied issuing a statement saying that civil disobedience is allowed in Islam.

Chairman Mohamed Osman Saleh told the Sudan News Agency (Suna) on Thursday that the statement attributed to the Sudan Scholars Corporation and that is currently circulating on the social media, “has nothing to do with our corporation”.

He described the statement as “a forged document fabricated by the enemies of the nation’s stability”.

The scholar emphasised that the Corporation “adheres to its fixed position of not allowing disobedience towards a ruler unless he is obstructing religious laws”.

He further pointed to the need to appoint “honest and powerful forces” on government positions, and “accelerate the resolution of issues reported by the Auditor-General”.

Civil strike

In response to austerity measures implemented in November, young Sudanese activists called for a three-day civil disobedience action on the social media.

During the civil strike, from 27 to 29 November, the streets of Khartoum remained quiet as many shops kept their doors closed and residents stayed at home.

Prominent Islamic leader El Mahboub Abdelsalam condemned the far-reaching economic measures and the ensuing price hikes in an interview with the Sudanese daily Alwan on Friday. “The government has lost its political legitimacy by dividing the country and itself,” he said.