Sudan (MNN) — Last week, South Sudanese pastors Yat Michael and Peter Yen were finally released after
the judge decided that although some charges held, they had served the
sentence in the time they had already spent in jail. However, Open Doors USA says the battle isn’t quite finished.
There’s still the travel ban to contend with. There is ban in place
preventing the pastors from leaving the country. That means both pastors
are being held in Sudan, prevented from returning home to their
families and congregations in South Sudan.
(Photo courtesy Open Doors)
However, things took a turn for the better on Monday. The lawyers
representing the pastors met with Sudan’s National Intelligence and
Security Service (NISS). There were concerns that it was the NISS who
had placed the ban, which would make the process a long and difficult
one. Instead, the NISS ensured that this was not the case.
It was actually the prosecution that issued the travel ban; but upon
further investigation, it was discovered that the court’s file had no
record of it.
The lawyers have appealed to the attorney general, but they won’t receive the decision until the court has finished its ruling.
It’s not the first time such a situation has caused problems in
Sudan. Over a year ago, Meriam Ibrahim was sentenced to death for
holding to her faith, and when she was released, she was forced to spend
weeks in the United States embassy.
However, the lawyers in this situation wouldn’t be surprised if the pastors are released within a few days.
The pastors and their lawyers, friends, and family all ask for
prayer. They’ll need courage to make it through the coming roadblocks,
and it can’t be done without the guiding hand of God.
Topic: Trouble strikes again for South Sudanese pastors
