Hassan Abduraheem

Update May 11, 2017

Praise God for the release today of Pastor Hassan Abduraheem and Abdulmonem Abdumawla, two men arrested in Dec. 2015 along with VOM worker Petr Jasek. The two men were set free from prison this afternoon (local time in Sudan) after a presidential pardon. The two men were each sentenced to a twelve year prison sentence for their roles in helping Petr provide aid to an injured Sudanese Christian from a Muslim background.

Update February 22, 2017

After a lengthy trial, a Sudanese court handed down extended prison sentence to Hassan Adburaheem, Abdulmonem Abdumawal and Petr Jasek. Hassan and Abdulmonem, both Sudanese, were sentenced to 12 years each. Czech national Petr Jasek was sentenced to life in prison (a life sentence is 20 years in Sudan) on convictions of spying and conducting NGO work without a permit, among other charges. The other two were charged with “aiding and abetting” Petr’s alleged spying. Local Christians reacted with shock and sadness, and the lawyers for the men said they plan to appeal the sentences.

Prisoner Details

Rev. Hassan Abduraheem, 49, who serves as Secretary-General of the Sudan Church of Christ (SCOC), was detained on Dec. 18, 2015, in Khartoum, Sudan. He is one of four men currently on trial on at least seven charges, some of which carry the potential death penalty or life imprisonment.

Rev. Abduraheem and the other men are accused of breaking several sections of Sudan’s criminal code: conspiring against the state, espionage against the country, entering and photographing military areas and works, calling for opposition to public authority by use of violence, provoking hatred against or amongst sects, and publishing false news. In addition, they also face charges of immigrating in illegal ways and conducting voluntary jobs without permission from the authorities under Sudan’s immigration and passport laws.

In November 2015, Rev. Abduraheem, Rev. Kuwa Shamal and Czech national Petr Jasek attended a conference for Christian leaders where Rev. Abduraheem was a presenter. While speaking on his work as a church leader in Sudan, Rev. Abduraheem showed a picture of a young man from Darfur who had been badly injured during a demonstration. Mr. Jasek later met with the injured man in Khartoum and donated money toward the man’s medical treatment. As Mr. Jasek left Sudan, he was searched by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), who discovered a receipt for the donation to the injured man. They then confiscated his personal belongings, including his mobile phone, laptop and camera.

Nine days after arresting Mr. Jasek, NISS officers arrested Rev. Abduraheem, who had signed the receipt, and Rev. Shamal. Charges were officially filed in August 2016. At least three court dates have been delayed because a translator failed to appear in court.

Rev. Abduraheem is originally from the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan. The NISS claims that the donation by Mr. Jasek was actually financial support for rebel movements in the South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur regions of Sudan.

Rev. Abduraheem is reportedly suffering from duodenal ulcers. His lawyer also complained that the prison meals were poor in quality, leading to further physical challenges. Please pray for Rev. Abduraheem’s health and that these men will receive a just verdict and immediate release so they can be reunited with their families. Click on WRITE LETTER above to write a letter of encouragement to Rev. Abduraheem. Mail your letter in care of the Sudan Embassy in Washington, D.C., to let Sudan’s government know that Christians around the world are aware of his case and are concerned for these falsely accused men.