According to religious freedom charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), authorities targeted Sudanese Evangelical Presbyterian Church (SEPC) in El Haj Yousif, Khartoum North.
Witnesses reported that at least three police trucks arrived at the church without notice moments after the service had ended, and security personnel started to clear and confiscate property before demolishing the church. Agents took items such as chairs, bibles and musical instruments.
CSW said the SEPC in El Haj Yousif was one of 25 churches earmarked for demolition in an official order signed in June 2016, and its leaders joined a legal challenge to prevent the government from confiscating and destroying their place of worship.
The church has stated that it is the legal owner of the property and land, and has used the building as a place of worship since 1989.
In May 2017, authorities demolished the last remaining church in the Soba Aradi district of Khartoum State, which had also been listed in the June 2016 order.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said it’s a deeply concerning situation.
He said: “The timing of the demolition, coming at the end of the Sunday service amidst a heavy police presence, is clearly an act of intimidation targeting the Christian community.
“We urge the government of Sudan to uphold the constitutionally-guaranteed…
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