Renewed call for Sudanese Christian Pastor’s release

The Sudanese solidarity committee with Christians in Europe and America have renewed their demand for the release of Pastor Hassan Abdelrahman Kodi (49), Secretary-General of the Sudanese Church of Christ, who has been in detention since 18 December 2015.

Tahir Kodi, the spokesman for the committee, said in comments to Radio Dabanga that they have received information that we received information that Pastor Kodi’s health has deteriorated. He is reportedly suffering from a gastric ulcer and has not received medical attention. His family has not been allowed to visit him since his arrest.

Kodi pointed out that no formal charges have been brought against the pastor.

Kodi says that another pastor, Rev. Kuwa Shemaal of the Evangelical Church, is being subjected to abuse by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), who summon him to their offices every day from morning until evening.

“His family and children are in need of care, as the daily reporting to the NISS does not allow him to provide a living for his children.”

Pastor Kodi was arrested together with two senior priests by the NISS on 18 December last year from their houses in Khartoum North and Omdurman, and interrogated about their participation in a Christian conference in Addis Ababa.

He was reportedly referred to the State Security Prosecution in Khartoum in May this year, but no charges have het been brought.

Persecution

Early in 2014, the churches of Sudan announced that Christians in the country are being harassed by the authorities and that their right to practice their religion is violated by the government.

The government has stopped granting permits to build new churches in Sudan, Christian religious leaders said, and they demanded from the government to do so. They claimed that some Christians are saying their prayers in their homes because of the stop on granting permits for the construction of churches.

The Human Rights and Development Organization (Hudo) Centre said it frequently receives reports about detention and ill-treatment of Christians in Sudan.