Religious communities under attack in devastating Sudan civil way, says US relgious freedom body

Originally published in Worthy News

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) warned last week that the year-long war between the Islamic Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their rival, the Islamic Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, has reached devastating levels and is severely impacting religious communities including Christians.

Having together violently deposed the fledgling democratic government established in Sudan after brutal dictator Omar al-Bashir was ousted in 2019, the SAF and the RSF are now vying for power in a war that has killed over 13 000 people and displaced millions more so far.

In an April 19 press release, the USCIRF warned that armed combatants have intentionally targeted religious communities in Sudan, reportedly damaging or destroying over 150 churches among other houses of worship. In an example cited by the USCIRF, one of the country’s largest and oldest Evangelical churches located in Gezira State was set on fire by the RSF. In another example, the RSF attacked a Coptic Christian monastery in Wad Madani.

“This week is the one-year anniversary of the brutal war that continues to tear Sudan apart,” USCIRF Commissioner Mohamed Magid is quoted as saying in the press release. “With no end in sight, USCIRF is sounding the alarm that this war is having on religious communities. International humanitarian law deems houses of worship and religious sites as sacrosanct, even during armed conflict.”

Warning of the potential for genocide, USCIRF Commissioner Frank Wolf added in the press release: “USCIRF had high hopes for the future trajectory of freedom of religion or belief in Sudan. The Sudanese transitional government made significant progress from 2019 to 2021. Sadly, USCIRF is instead watching the horrors unfold in Sudan, reminiscent of the past wars that resulted in genocide and crimes against humanity in the country.”

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