NEW YORK — The United Nations General Assembly dealt a setback to possibly the world’s worst perpetrator of religious persecution Oct. 10 when it refused to approve Sudan for a seat in the U.N. Security Council.
The General Assembly selected the island democracy of Mauritius over Sudan in a 113–55 vote on the fourth round of a secret ballot. The United States government, with the urging of religious and human rights organizations, led the effort to prevent Sudan from gaining the African seat in this year’s election.
Religious freedom advocates have decried in recent years the militant Islamic regime ruling Sudan for its campaign against Christian and animist villages in the central and southern parts of the country. Troops supported by Khartoum have regularly raided such villages, massacring the men and capturing and enslaving women and children. Sudan also has become known as a host for terrorists and is under Security Council sanctions for its sponsorship of international terrorists.
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