Sudan: Pastor and activist released from prison

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Sudan | 01 June 2017

As the Sudan Tribune reported on 15 May 2017, a pastor and an activist who were imprisoned for more than a year have been pardoned by President al-Bashir and released. Pastor Hassan Abduraheem Kodi Taour and Mr Abdulmonem Abdumawla were sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for allegedly aiding and abetting a Czech aid-worker who was released In February. Yonas Dembele, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "To begin with, the two men should never have been jailed in the first place. It was widely reported that they were sentenced so harshly solely because of their political activities (Christian-based in the case of Pastor Hassan) and not because they committed any acts of espionage as presented by the prosecution. It is good that they have been released but it is important to see this in context: At the same time as these men were released, the government of Sudan continued its program of demolishing Christian churches. No one should be fooled: Sudan remains very hostile to Christians."