Christian foundation decries ‘widespread, systematic’ forceful conversion to Islam in Sudan

Smoke billows during air strikes in central Khartoum as the Sudanese army attacks positions held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) throughout the Sudanese capital on Oct. 12, 2024. / Credit: AFP via Getty Images

ACI Africa, Oct 18, 2024 / 14:40 pm (CNA).

A U.K.-based human rights foundation condemned the forced conversion of Christians to Islam in Sudan following the arbitrary arrest of 12 Christian men by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) military intelligence unit.

The 12 men were part of a group of 26, most of whom are Christians and were reportedly detained at a building run by the Sudanese Church of Christ. Although 14 were released between Oct. 12 and 13, the rest are still under the detention of SAF, which has been fighting with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023.

In a report on Oct. 14, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) condemned the detention of the 12 and the forceful conversion of Christians to Islam in various Sudanese villages.

“We call on the RSF to cease its efforts at forcible conversion, which have been occurring on a widespread and systematic basis since the beginning of the ongoing conflict,” CSW founding president Mervyn Thomas said.

CSW reported that the detained Christians, primarily from the Moro Nuban tribe in Sudan’s South Kordofan State, have long faced both religious and ethnic discrimination. The Almudada unit of the military intelligence that is holding them is known for being notorious in the use of torture, according to the report.

According to CSW, Christians in the village of Al Thora Mobe in Gezira state are being coerced into converting to Islam by the RSF. The village, home to Christian refugees from the Nuba Mountains since 2011, has been under RSF control since December 2023.

Meanwhile, their families, including at least 25 women and 54 children, remain in a dire humanitarian situation, forced to stay in the overcrowded Sudanese Church of Christ building.

According to CSW, the men were members of the church in Al Ezba, Khartoum North. They had fled their homes along with approximately 100 other church members as fighting between SAF and RSF escalated.

These Christians sought refuge in Shendi only to face arrests that started Oct. 6, with groups detained over several days until Oct. 11. The men are said to have been subjected to harassment, physical assault, and interrogation with accusations of being RSF affiliates.

In the report, Thomas expressed concern over the situation of the detained 12, saying: “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.”

He called for the immediate release of those still detained and raised alarm over the conditions of their detention, which include denial of family or lawyer visits and the lack of formal charges. Thomas urged both the SAF and RSF to adhere to international humanitarian law and to respect their international obligations under the Jeddah agreement.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.