(Worthy News) – Caught in the crosshairs of the raging civil war in Sudan, a group of male Christian refugees were arbitrarily arrested and detained by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) Military Intelligence unit in Shendi, River Nile State, between October 12-13, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports.
Other, non-Christians, were among the 26 men arrested and detained by the SAF, but most of the arrestees are members of the Sudanese Church of Christ (SCOC) in Al Ezba, Khartoum North, CSW reports. Fourteen of the men were subsequently released, but the remaining 12 are in prison.
“[The Christians] were forced to flee along with their families as fighting between the SAF and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensified in the city. They were among 100 SCOC members who fled to Shendi in October,” CSW says in its report.
“At the time of the arrests, the officers separated the men, women, and children, and all males over the age of 18 were detained. Those detained have not been allowed visits from family members or from their lawyers, and have not been formally charged with any crimes,” CSW reports.
Noting that the men are being held by the Almudada Unit of Military Intelligence, a unit that is known for using torture against its detainees, CSW Founder President Mervyn Thomas said in a statement: “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.”
Chronically war-torn Muslim-majority Sudan ranks 8th on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest Stories from Worthy News
President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that he had a “productive conversation” with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo about combating the illegal flow of fentanyl into the United States and addressing illegal immigration. Trump added that Mexico had agreed to take immediate action to prevent illegal immigrants from reaching the southern border.
The FBI announced Wednesday that it is investigating bomb threats and “swatting” incidents, as well as other threats, targeting several of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees and administration appointees.
The Israeli government is set to sign an important new deal with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems company for the purchase of a ground-breaking personal laser defense system to protect infantry soldiers serving with the Israel Defense Forces, Ynet News reports.
There was hope Tuesday for at least some of the thousands of Christians held as “bonded labors” in Islamic-ruled Pakistan, with Christian aid workers telling Worthy News they freed 100 Christian families ahead of Christmas.
Israel will appeal the arrest warrants issued last week by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the Jerusalem Post reports.