Posted: 08/05/2015 at 11:07am
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Two South Sudan Pastors Released (Breaking News)
Written by
Dan Wooding
Sudanese church service
By Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST News Service
KHARTOUM, SUDAN (ANS – August 5, 2015)
-- The South Sudanese clergymen who were on trial in Khartoum on
serious criminal charges, have been released following a court hearing
on August 5.
According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) -- http://www.csw.org.uk
-- they were the Reverends Yat Michael and Peter Reith, who faced at
least six charges, including undermining the constitutional system
(Article 50); espionage (Article 53); promoting hatred amongst sects
(Article 64); breach of public peace (Article 69); and offences relating
to insulting religious beliefs (Article 125). Of the charges, Articles
50 and 53 carry the death penalty or life imprisonment in the event of a
guilty verdict.
During today’s hearing Rev Michael was convicted of inciting hatred
and Rev Reith of breaching public peace, but both were released on time
served. In a comment to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) Rev Michael
said: “I am feeling free because I was in jail for many months. I have
become like I’m born again.”
CSW stated that the Rev Michael and Rev Reith were detained on 14
December 2014 and 11 January 2015 respectively. Until 1 March, they were
held incommunicado by the National Intelligence and Security Service
(NISS), after which they were transferred to the Attorney General’s
custody, charged with the six crimes and brought before court.
Since being moved to the maximum security Kober Prison on 6 June, the
pastors had not been allowed visits from their families or legal team,
despite repeated appeals, and could only consult with their lawyers
briefly prior to court hearings.
However, on August 3, Rev Reith was permitted a telephone call to his
lawyer and informed him that although he was suffering from malaria and
a chest infection, his condition had somewhat improved.
On August 4 came reports the cases of eight Christian women accused
of dressing indecently were being transferred to a different court
following procedural irregularities by the trial judge.
CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, “We are overjoyed at the
clergymen’s release from prison. While we welcome this news, we remain
concerned at the irregularities in their case and the ongoing harassment
of Christians in Sudan that results in court cases such as this against
the pastors and the young women, who were arrested on public indecency
charges and could still face lashes.
We will continue to advocate for them and for all others who are
being targeted on account of their faith. We continue to urge Sudan to
uphold its constitutional guarantees for freedom of religion or belief
and its responsibility to promote and protect this right under
international law, in order to preserve Sudan’s pluralism and
diversity.”
Photo caption: Reverends Yat Michael and Peter Reith, the South
Sudanese clergymenwho were on trial in Khartoum on serious criminal
charges, have been released following a court hearing on August 5
(Photo: Christian Solidarity Worldwide) Source: Assist News
Service
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