Sudan: Christian Refugees Arbitrarily Arrested and Detained by Military

(Worthy News) – Caught in the crosshairs of the raging civil war in Sudan, a group of male Christian refugees were arbitrarily arrested and detained by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) Military Intelligence unit in Shendi, River Nile State, between October 12-13, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. 

Other, non-Christians, were among the 26 men arrested and detained by the SAF, but most of the arrestees are members of the Sudanese Church of Christ (SCOC) in Al Ezba, Khartoum North, CSW reports. Fourteen of the men were subsequently released, but the remaining 12 are in prison. 

“[The Christians] were forced to flee along with their families as fighting between the SAF and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensified in the city. They were among 100 SCOC members who fled to Shendi in October,” CSW says in its report. 

“At the time of the arrests, the officers separated the men, women, and children, and all males over the age of 18 were detained. Those detained have not been allowed visits from family members or from their lawyers, and have not been formally charged with any crimes,” CSW reports.

Noting that the men are being held by the Almudada Unit of Military Intelligence, a unit that is known for using torture against its detainees, CSW Founder President Mervyn Thomas said in a statement: “We are deeply concerned by the arrest and detention of these men, who simply sought refuge for themselves and their families, yet have been subjected to unjust detention, unwarranted assaults and interrogation.”

Chronically war-torn Muslim-majority Sudan ranks 8th on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.

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