Sudanese authorities threaten to destroy churches

OMDURMAN, Sudan — Local authorities have threatened to demolish three church buildings in Omdurman as part of a long-standing bid to rid Sudan of Christianity, Christian sources said. Church leaders from the three churches in the Madinat al-Fath area of Omdurman — the Sudanese Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church of Sudan and the Roman Catholic Church — said they were surprised to see government officials come to their church premises Sept. 11, accusing them of operating churches on government land without permission.

The church leaders said the buildings were not located on government land and required no permission. Officials from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Public Utilities-Khartoum State appeared and asked church leaders who gave them permission to build on government land, the church leaders said.

Jaafer al Sudani, manager of church affairs in the Ministry of Guidance and Religious Endowment (MGRE), said officials there had no knowledge of church buildings to be demolished. At the same time, area Christians said they believe the government is quietly carrying out surveys on Christians and church programs as part of a broader effort to make Islam the official state religion; officials from MGRE have called church leaders asking them to reveal information about their church members and activities of the churches, they said.