Upcoming Trial of South Sudanese Pastors

Rev. Yat Michael and Rev. Peter Reith
Photo: CSW

Two South Sudanese pastors on trial in Khartoum had their latest hearing on July 2nd. During the hearing, the judge questioned Rev. Yat Michael and Rev. Peter Reith, inquiring as to why they should be involved in Christian ministry within an Islamic country. He then ruled that their case will continue on July 14th, during which time they are to be tried on all charges -- two of which carry a death sentence or life imprisonment. The lawyer representing the two pastors has been denied access to them.

Rev. Michael and Rev. Reith were arrested in December 2014 and January 2015 respectively and charged with multiple offences, including undermining the constitutional system and espionage (offences that carry the death penalty) and blasphemy (which may be punished by whipping). For a previous report on their arrest, please click here.

In another incident, Pastor Hafez of the Evangelical Church in Bahri (where Rev. Michael had preached before his arrest) and Mohaned Mustafa (the lawyer representing the church and both previously mentioned pastors) were arrested on July 1st and detained briefly before being released on bail. On the order of government officials, the authorities had come to destroy part of the church complex. When Pastor Hafez and the lawyer complained that the government employee was attempting to destroy a part of the church compound that was not within the government order, they were both arrested for obstructing a public servant in the exercise of his duties. The government employee continued to destroy the part of the compound that was not within the order.

The lawyer was driven to the police station but the pastor was made to walk there in handcuffs. During his detention, Pastor Hafez was hit on the side of his head with a gun. After his release, he needed to go to the hospital for x-rays. It is not yet known when the case against Pastor Hafez and the lawyer will be brought to court.

Please uphold all three pastors and the representing lawyer, Mohaned, who are in need of God's divine peace, protection and intervention. Ask the Lord to go before the upcoming trial, preparing the hearts of all those involved in this case so that it may be conducted in a just and reasonable manner. May the outcome be favourable for all of these genuine servants of the Gospel. Also remember the church in Sudan as a whole, praying that the country's believers will not lose heart but rejoice in the midst of opposition, embracing the opportunity to be strengthened spiritually, further develop in Christ-like character, and bring glory to the matchless name of Jesus (James 1:2-4).

  • Country Information

    Population
    49,197,555 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Sudanese Arab (70), Fur, Beja, Nuba and Fallata (30)

    Religion
    Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority

    Leader
    President (to be determined)
    Transitional military leadership in place

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    Mixed legal system of Islamic law and English common law

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Sudan

    Pray that Christians throughout Sudan will continue to entrust themselves to Christ and preach the Gospel boldly, knowing Jesus is the ruler over the kings of the earth (2 Timothy 1:7-12, Revelation 1:5).

    Pray also that peace, justice and religious freedom may be firmly established.

Sudan News

  • Church Building Destroyed While Authorities Watch
    A pile of rubble - corregated metal, wood, and various other objects - is heaped where a building once stood.
    A demolished Pentecostal church building in Khartoum.
    Photo: CSW

    On July 8th, approximately 30 individuals equipped with heavy machinery demolished a Pentecostal church in the El Haj Yousif area of Khartoum as police officers and military personnel looked on without intervening. By the time the demolition was finished, the worship hall – which had been constructed in the early 1990s – was reduced to rubble, along with the church's administrative offices, guest house, and other adjoining buildings.

  • Church Leaders Face Violence from Multiple Sides
    A large church with several spires.
    A church in Sudan.
    Photo: Flickr / David Stanley (cc)

    The bishop of the El-Obeid diocese in Sudan recently suffered a harrowing ordeal at the hands of both members of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and those of the opposing rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF). On December 1st, Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku Andali reported that he was travelling with a deacon named Joseph. The ministry team had just arrived in El-Obeid when they were suddenly stopped and harassed by the SAF. The troops seized the small sum of money in U.S. dollars that the bishop was carrying, claiming that it was forbidden currency. During the robbery, the soldiers also physically harmed the two men.

  • Displaced Christians Driven From Their Homes
    A large group of people are gathered around a small mosque.
    A group of people in Sudan.
    Photo: Wikipedia / Nina R (cc)

    Residents of the Al-Makniya area of Sudan's River Nile state drove 34 displaced Christians from their homes on October 19th. Those responsible for the displacement explained that they did not want any Christians nor black people in the area.

  • Military Officers Arrest Christian Refugees
    A group of men are standing together. They appear to be singing.
    Photo: VOMC
     

    Amid the ongoing civil war in Sudan, a group of over 100 Sudanese men, women and children travelled to the city of Shendi on the banks of the Nile River in search of refuge from the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary group, RSF. There, the refugees – most of whom are members of the Sudanese Church of Christ – sought shelter in an affiliated church building.