Sudan’s upcoming constitution will be ‘Islamic’ Bashir says
July 7, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir on Saturday said that he rejects ‘secularism’ and reiterated his commitment to replace the country’s constitution with an ‘Islamic’ one.
He went on to declare that the country’s upcoming constitution will be ‘Islamic’ and serve as “a role model for all people who have aspirations to apply religion in all aspects of their lives”.
Bashir also announced that they would form a committee comprising all political forces and especially religious groups to draft the constitution.
Bashir has already decided to end the debate about his country’s cultural identity, stating at one point ahead of the secession of the mainly Christian South Sudan in July 2011 that Sudan would adopt a constitution with Islam being the official religion and Arabic the official language.
His new comments come at a time when his government is facing growing public discontent and street protests over rising cost of living as the country’s economy struggles to weather the effects of losing 75 percent of its oil production to South Sudan.
Sudan’s current constitution, which was agreed in 2005 as per the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) with South Sudan, in theory recognises the country’s ethnic, religious and cultural diversity.
Official records say that 97 percent of Sudan’s estimated population of over 30 million are Muslim.
(ST)