Several Christians Arrested and Tortured in Sudan
On January 14, Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) intelligence agents arrested and reportedly tortured seven Christians in Shendi, approximately 150 kilometres northeast of Khartoum. The Christians, members of the Sudanese Church of Christ, had fled military conflict in Khartoum seeking refuge in SAF-controlled territories, only to be met with accusations and abuse.
The Sudanese Christian Youth Union reported that Military Intelligence accused the Christians of supporting the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and receiving stolen money—allegations that the detainees denied. “These accusations were merely an excuse to detain them,” said Christian attorney Shinbago Mugaddam, who has been following the case while in exile due to the ongoing conflict.
Mugaddam stated that the Christians were tortured, denied legal aid, and forced to confess to fabricated charges. “They were beaten and interrogated, and when taken to a sham trial the same day, they had no chance to defend themselves. The complainants and witnesses were all members of Military Intelligence,” he explained.
The seven Christians were convicted under Article 174 of Sudan’s 1994 Criminal Code, which pertains to theft, in a summary trial where “the conditions for a fair trial were not met,” Mugaddam added.
The Union of Sudanese Christian Youth condemned the arrests as a violation of human and religious rights. In their statement on January 21, they called for international intervention: “We in the Sudanese Christian Youth Union hereby condemn these violations that are based on religion, colour, and ethnicity.”
This incident is not isolated. In October 2023, military intelligence arrested 26 Christians in Shendi after they fled RSF-controlled areas in Khartoum. These arrests are part of a broader pattern of persecution, exacerbated by the ongoing civil war between the SAF and RSF.
Sudan ranked fifth on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, a sharp rise from its eighth position the previous year. The report highlighted increasing violence against Christians, including killings, sexual assaults, and attacks on homes and businesses.
“Christians of all backgrounds are trapped in the chaos, unable to flee. Churches are shelled, looted, and occupied by the warring parties,” the report stated.
The conflict, which began in April 2023, has displaced over 12.36 million people and killed tens of thousands, according to the U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights. Both the SAF and RSF, Islamist forces that had previously shared military rule, accuse displaced Christians of supporting the opposing side, subjecting them to arrests, torture, and harassment.
The SAF is led by Gen. Abdelfattah al-Burhan, while the RSF is commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Despite presenting themselves as pro-democracy leaders to the international community, both have Islamist roots. Disagreements over integrating the RSF into the regular army derailed a framework agreement for democratic transition in March 2023.
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Religious freedoms in Sudan saw brief progress after the 2019 ousting of former dictator Omar al-Bashir, whose regime enforced harsh Sharia laws. The transitional civilian-military government repealed apostasy laws and banned labelling religious groups as “infidels.” However, the October 2021 military coup reversed these gains, raising fears of renewed persecution among Christians.
In May 2024, Sudan’s military-led government passed an amendment to the General Intelligence Service (GIS) Law, granting extensive powers and immunity to intelligence officers. The law, as noted by the Sudan War Monitor, shields agents from prosecution for actions performed “in good faith” during their duties. This has further emboldened abuses against vulnerable populations, including Christians.
The Sudanese Christian Youth Union and other advocacy groups are urging regional and international bodies to intervene and protect Christians facing systematic persecution. The U.S. State Department removed Sudan from its list of Countries of Particular Concern in 2019, but the current situation demands renewed attention.
As Sudan’s civil war continues, the estimated 2 million Christians—roughly 4.5% of the population—remain at high risk. “The arrests, torture, and sham trials are stark reminders of the regression in religious freedoms,” said Mugaddam. “The international community must act to prevent further violations.”
Content Credit| Oyedepo Oluwafifedoyinsola Precious
Picture Credit | https://www.oikoumene.org/
