Sudan reiterates its protection for religious freedoms
August 9, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese state minister of justice Ahmed Abu Zaid on Sunday has discussed with the visiting U.S. ambassador for international religious freedom, David N. Saperstein, the situation of religious freedom in the country.
He underscored that the country doesn’t suffer from any religious problems particularly as Islam calls for respecting other beliefs, pointing the Sudanese society enjoys high level of religious tolerance.
The Sudanese minister further pointed that all Churches which were built during the colonial era in strategic geographic sites still exist despite the fact that Christians constitute only 1 to 2% of the population following the secession of South Sudan.
He emphasised that Sudan’s constitution and laws protect all religions and ensure the right to worship, saying that Sudan preserves human rights irrespective of religion and geographical location.
Since 1999, Sudan is on the U.S. State Department list of “countries of particular concern” as the government of president Omer al-Bashir is accused of severe violations of religious freedoms.
MEETING ARAB HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE
Meanwhile, the Sudanese justice minister, Awad Hassan al-Nour, discussed human rights situation with the visiting delegation of the Human Rights Committee of the Arab league.
He expressed his ministry’s readiness to facilitate the work of the committee, pointing to the government’s efforts to reform the laws in accordance with the Shari’a law.
Al-Nour underscored importance of the role being played by the committee in promoting human rights in the Arab world, saying the delegation would meet with officials from several concerned bodies including the police, prison police and the foreign ministry.
He disclosed that the first report on the situation of human rights in Sudan had been discussed during the past few months.
The chairman of the committee, Hadi Ali M Alyam, for his part said they came to Sudan to arrive at a joint understanding ahead of the discussion of the Sudanese report during the coming months in the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.
It should be mentioned that the human rights committee is the body responsible for following up on the implementation of the Arab Charter for Human Rights (ACHR).
The committee reviews reports from member states regarding the implementation of the measures stipulated in the charter.
(ST)