A house belonging to a Sudanese church has been demolished by government officials, reports Christian advocacy group Middle East Concern.
The Bahri Evangelical Church, on the outskirts of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, has seen a number of its buildings damaged or demolished since 2013, when a committee imposed by the government (but not recognised by the church) sold part of its land to investors. In September 2015, a court ruled the committee was illegal.
Several of the church’s members and leaders have been arrested and fined in recent years for protesting against the sale of their property.
In October last year, five churches received notifications that their buildings would be demolished.
Meanwhile, the verdict in the trial of a Sudanese church leader and two others is expected on 23 January. Czech aid worker Petr Jašek is accused of waging war against the state, violating restrictions in military areas, spreading rumours to defame the state, espionage, and inciting strife between communities; Sudanese pastor Hassan Taour and Darfuri graduate Abdulmonem Abdumawla are accused only of the last two of these charges.
Sudan is fifth on the Open Doors 2017 World Watch List of the 50 countries in which it is most difficult to live as a Christian.