Non-Muslims slams Bashir’s statements on alcohol ban in the capital
March 27, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Non-Sudanese Muslims in the capital Khartoum have on Saturday 27 deplored total ban of alcohol consumption saying Khartoum remains a national capital for all tribes regardless of regions of origin and should not be ruled under Islamic law.
They were reacting to recent statements made by the Sudanese President who said his government would have zero tolerance for those who drink or deal in alcoholic drinks saying they will be whipped under the Islamic Sharia’a laws.
Under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) a commission for the rights of Non-Muslims in the capital is tasked with defending the interests of Southerners living in the capital governed by Islamic Shari’a law.
Jacob Bul Deng, a political science student studying at Juba university campus in Kadaro, east of Khartoum, said angered by statement made by president Omer Al-Bashir banning making and selling of alcohol in the city.
We all know Khartoum is a national capital supposed to be free of all repressive Islamic laws prohibiting alcohol and fines for indecent dressing. This is what was agreed in the CPA. All tribes living in the national capital should be allowed to interact freely and eat foods and drinks based on their cultural backgrounds, he said.
Similarly, Madeline Abuk Chol at the same university, said northerners are openly telling the southerners to go because their acts do not seem to unify the country by imposing laws that affects rights of southerners and other marginalized tribes in the country.
“They are refusing to separate religion from politics so Sudan becomes secular state and at the same time calling for unity, what does this mean? They are simply telling southerners to go if they do not need to live their way,” she said.
But, Gum Maker, a veterinary student at the University of Bahr el Ghazal says supporting president Bashir’s statement to ban brewery and alcohol consumption because it is ruining lives and future of most southern Sudanese.
“This is a caring and responsible statement by President Bashir, I support and I will be among those to assist police in identification of those involved in alcohol brewing,” he said.
Gum, who lives in Hai Yousif suburb, where live many southerners, says many of “our women” are shouldering a lot of responsibilities because their husbands are addicted to alcohol consumption and not able to take care of their families, “this will help a lot”, he added in reference to Bashir statements. “There are issues that I do not support government but I give my support to government on this,” he adds.
He argued that the freedom to consume alcohol close or at public places poses a serious threat to peace and harmony within society because some people drink with intention to cause chaos.
The government has prohibited brewery of alcohol in public but surprisingly we are witnessing individuals coming out from different places and taking ride in public transports smelling alcoholic each time when I’m on my way to reach school every morning from Bahari, said Hawa Abdullah Deng Kur at Upper Nile University in Khartoum.
“Such people should not be allowed to enter public transports because they pollute environments and are never quiet once in the vehicle,” she said. If the government is committed to ban alcohol, then there must be no exception to public transports.
(ST)