(Photo: CSW)
In Sudan, a church community faces significant challenges in their efforts to restore their place of worship, a situation highlighted by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). The Coptic congregation in Wad Diab Al Gaba has been gathering at the same location for thirty years, on land owned by Zaki Wanees Abadeer.
After a devastating rainstorm in 2019 severely damaged their building, which was originally constructed with basic materials, the church’s 350 members decided to demolish the remnants and construct a more durable structure from bricks and mortar. They embarked on fundraising and construction, nearing completion by the end of last year.
However, their progress was halted when a group of Muslim extremists filed a complaint, prompting local authorities to demand a halt to all construction and worship activities until a proper permit could be acquired. Unfortunately, the necessary permits have yet to be granted.
CSW, advocating for persecuted Christians globally, has expressed concerns that Sudanese authorities often expedite the establishment of mosques while employing bureaucratic obstacles to hinder church construction.
These issues are exacerbated by the ongoing civil war in Sudan, where religious buildings have been targeted by conflicting parties. Even if the conflict were to cease immediately, many Christians would still face immense challenges in securing a place for worship.
Mervyn Thomas, CSW’s founder and president, stated, “We urge the authority in Northern State, Sudan to grant this church the necessary permits to enable them to continue worshipping peaceably and to complete the reconstruction of their place of worship.”
“This community of 65 families has used the church for 30 years and is now left without a place to gather safely, which violates their right to freedom of religion or belief as guaranteed by the constitution and Sudan’s international obligations,” he added.
He emphasized that the ongoing war should not justify the suppression of religious freedoms, calling for immediate resolution of the issue.
Thomas also appealed to the international community, urging them to support religious freedom in Sudan. He said, “We also call on the international community to ensure that any negotiations regarding post-conflict reconstruction include the needs of vulnerable religious communities who may have lost access to both registered and unregistered properties, and whose buildings may require comprehensive reconstruction.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
