‘Al Bashir has no relation to Islam’

The head of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army Abdel Wahid Mohamed Ahmed Al Nour has revealed that the coalition agreement in Kauda known as the Sudan Revolutionary Front is based on pillars of secular liberal democratic principles, with a clear separation of religion from state affairs. In an exclusive interview with Radio Dabanga to be aired on Saturday, Abdel Wahid said the establishment of a secular state did not mean exclusion of religion from public life, but rather a separation of religious and political institutions. He said Sudan is a mix of ethnicities and religions, and the exploitation of religion in politics is what led to the separation of South Sudan. He stressed that secularism was not akin to communism, where communists believe religion is the opium of the people, and oppresses them. But rather that belief in Islam, Christianity or any other religion must be treated equally by the state, granting equal citizenship to all people. In Kosti on Wednesday President Al Bashir stated again as he had in the past year, that following the independence of the South, the new constitution of Sudan would be based on Islamic law. He said the new constitution would be viewed as a model for the Muslim world. Abdel Wahid said religion had never been a source of conflict for Sudanese people before, but the politicization of religion by Al Bashir created disputes and differences amongst people in Sudan. He said the SLM-AW will fight Al Bashir and see him handed in to the International Criminal Court. ‘Al Bashir has no relation to Islam’, he continued, ‘as manifested in the large scale kiling of Muslims in Darfur, the rapes of thousands of women and girls and through forcing millions to be displaced and suffering in miserable camps.’