Ahmad Abdulrahman

Mr. Ahmad Abdulrahman, a Christian in his late 20s, was sentenced to five years in prison for the charges of "plotting to overthrow the government of Sudan." One particular source suggested that Mr. Abdulrahman's conviction was due to statements he was forced to make under interrogation and harsh beatings. The sentences for those involved vary from five to ten years' imprisonment. Mr. Abdulrahman's prison sentence is in addition to the fourteen months which he already served for his alleged crime.

Newspapers in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, quoted government prosecutors as complaining that the sentences were "too light in respect to the crime committed," and calling for a retrial.

In this particular case, most of the Christians have not been charged formally with apostasy, Section 126 of the 1991 Criminal Act of Sudan. Mr. Abdulrahman and fellow defendants previously were charged with a total of 12 separate criminal violations for alleged political conspiracy against the Khartoum regime, three of which required the death penalty upon conviction. Sudanese Christians suggest that government officials concocted the political accusations against Mr. Abdulrahman, and others involved in the case, in order to provide the only judicial means to execute the former Muslim without rousing international criticism.

Christians in the Sudan suffer from discrimination instigated by their country's leaders who claim to spearhead an Islamic revolution in Africa. The Sudanese National Army is attempting to force the Islamic religion on the entire population. In some cases, persecution involves armed hostilities on the part of the government. Christians also face discrimination with regards to employment, education, and the new construction or repair of church buildings. The horrible persecutions endured by Christians in Sudan have been documented in Paul Marshall's book, Their Blood Cries Out, as well as in many non-governmental agency publications. "Churches have been closed ... Christian children have been forced into re-education camps where they are given Arab names and raised as Muslims ... Many Christians are victims of slave raids and [are] forced to convert to Islam."

Source:  Information supplied by Compass Direct, Jubilee Campaign, and other sources.

To help Mr. Abdulrahman, please write letters to Sudanese government officials listed here using the text below as a model.  

Sudanese Government Officials

President:

His Excellency
Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir
President of the Republic of the Sudan
Khartoum
Sudan

Dear Mr. President:

Ambassador:

His Excellency
Khidir Haroun Ahmed
Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan
2210 Massachusetts Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008

Dear Mr. Ambassador:

Sample Letter

I write today as a friend of the Sudanese people and as an American citizen wishing to express my deep concern about the case of Mr. Ahmad Abdulrahman, a Christian accused of political conspiracy against the Khartoum government. I am very concerned about reports of continuing harassment, beatings, arrests, and torture committed by the government of Sudan against minority religious believers, including Christians, Animists, and moderate Muslims.

Mr. Ahmad Abdulrahman, a Christian in his late 20s, recently was sentenced to five years in prison for the charges of "plotting to overthrow the government of Sudan." Reports suggest that Mr. Abdulrahman's conviction was due to statements he was forced to make under interrogation and harsh beatings.

Mr. President, I am deeply concerned about Mr. Abdulrahman and the apparent violations of international human rights standards by government officials. I respectfully request that you intervene on behalf of Mr. Abdulrahman, secure his release from prison, and ensure that his rights are protected as he peacefully serves the Sudanese people.

Thank you for your attention to securing the release of Mr. Ahmad Abdulrahman and ensuring the continued protection of his rights, as well as those of other minority religious believers in Sudan.

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