Sudan: Two Pastors Arrested
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Sudan’s security officials have arrested two pastors in the Khartoum area of Sudan.
According to Morning Star News, on Dec. 18, Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services officials arrested two pastors of the Sudan Church of Christ at their respective homes. The Rev. Kowa Shamaal was arrested in Hai Thiba Al Hamyida, in Khartoum Bahry and the Rev. Hassan Abdelrahim was arrested in Ombada in Omdurman.
The two pastors whereabouts were unknown at press time.
Family members were not told the reason for the arrests, but both pastors had objected to Sudan’s demolition of SCOC property. Shamaal’s own church building in Hai Thiba Al Hamyida was destroyed by the government in June 2014.
The arrest of the two pastors comes only four months after the release of two South Sudanese pastors who were arrested on fabricated charges. NISS agents had arrested the Reverends Peter Reith and Yat Michael; both were eventually convicted on lesser charges and released for time served. The pastors returned to their native South Sudan and then secretly relocated with their families.
Michael was arrested after encouraging the congregation of the Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church, whose worship center was partially demolished by order of the Sudanese government after Muslim investors unsuccessfully tried to take control of the property. Reith was arrested on Jan. 11 after inquiring in writing about the whereabouts of Michael.
Harassment of Christians has intensified in Sudan since the secession of South Sudan in July 2011. One year later, Sudan has since expelled foreign Christians and bulldozed churches on the pretext that the buildings actually belonged to South Sudanese citizens.
Because of its treatment of Christians and other human rights violations, Sudan has been designated a Country of Particular Concern by the U.S. State Department since 1999.
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