The Ongoing Struggle for Religious Freedom in Sudan Amid Civil War
(Photo: Aid to the Church in Need)
As Sudan continues to grapple with civil war, a local believer shared insights with the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) about the current situation following the evacuation of El Fasher by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
The ongoing conflict pits the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against the SAF, with both sides accused of civilian attacks. Since April of last year, the RSF has laid siege to El Fasher, turning refugee camps into military outposts, which has resulted in the displacement of millions.
Among those affected is Mariam Ibrahim, a Sudanese Christian who was sentenced to death in 2014 for apostasy and adultery—charges rooted in her refusal to renounce her Christian faith.
“I was accused because I grew up as a Christian, because I practiced my faith, and because I married a Christian man,” she explained.
“That was considered a crime. I spent Christmas 2013 in prison. I discovered I was pregnant just before being jailed. That first night in the cell I was terrified and could only pray.
“My mother had passed away, my father’s family rejected me, and the media called me ‘unclean’, ‘infidel’ and ‘deserving of death’.”
In prison, Ibrahim hid Bible pages in her hair to read them undetected in the bathroom, the only place she could practice her faith safely.
“That was the only place I could open it without being discovered. I still carry that prison Bible with me everywhere I go. When people ask me how to pray for the persecuted, I say: pray that they find access to God’s Word.
“In many countries, owning a Bible is seen as an act of terrorism. But the Bible is not a threat – it is the story of salvation for all people.”
International pressure and assistance from the Italian government eventually secured her release.
The recent Religious Freedom in the World report from ACN highlights that persecution in Sudan is increasing, fueled by authoritarian governance and Islamic extremism. Globally, two-thirds of the population, approximately 5.4 billion people, reside in nations with significant religious freedom violations.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
