Sudan Eases Traditional Religious Laws

Sudan recently banned several practices that infringed on fundamental human rights, making a positive turn amidst its long history of fundamentalist rule.

Crux of the Matter

Changed Laws Sudan is an African country having a majority population of Muslims. The country functioned under Islamic law till 2019 and has since abolished several practices. Recently, the country allowed alcohol consumption for non-Muslims, banned public flogging, and decriminalized apostasy (renunciation of religion, Islam in this case). The steps came after mass protests in early July to fast-track the reforms. Previously, the government had banned “female genital mutilation” in April 2020. History Of The Country

1. Sudan existed under the joint rule of Britain and Egypt between 1899 and 1955.

2. It achieved its independence on 1 January 1956.

3. 1969: Jaafar Mohamed el-Nimeiry overthrew the government and became the ruler.

4. 1971: Nimeiry re-established his rule after a short-lived communist-backed coup by Major Hashem al Atta.

5. 1983: Nimeiry established Islamic law in the country.

6. 1989: Colonel Omar al-Bashir overthrew the government and extended Islamic law.

7. A civil war then started between the National Islamist Front and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army.

8. 2003: A war erupted in the Darfur region over the alleged persecution of non-Arab minorities.

9. The country’s southern region consisted of animists and Christian minorities. In 2011, South Sudan achieved independence from the Republic of Sudan.

10. 2014: Mariam Yahia Ibrahim, a pregnant woman, was sentenced to death for apostasy. The sentence was revoked after pressure from international human rights foundations and brought the situation of human right violation in Sudan in the spotlight of the world.

11. 2018: Mass protests occurred over the degrading economy, after which President al-Bashar was forced to step down in 2019.

12. A transitional government approved by the United Nations was appointed, of which Abdalla Hamdok was appointed as the Prime Minister.

Curiopedia

1. The current flag of Sudan is based on the Arab Liberation Flag shared by Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen that uses a subset of the Pan-Arab colors in which green is less significant. Prior to the 1969 military coup of Gaafar Nimeiry, a blue-yellow-green tricolour design was used.

2. The Arab world consists of the 22 Arab countries which are members of the Arab League. A majority of these countries are located in Western Asia, North Africa, and the Horn of Africa. Sudan is a part of the Arab world.

3. Muhammad Ali Pasha was the Albanian Ottoman governor and the de facto ruler of Egypt from 1805 to 1848. At the height of his rule, he controlled Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, Sudan and parts of Arabia and the entire Levant.

Curated Coverage

1. The New York Times – Sudan Will Scrap Alcohol and Apostasy Laws, and End Flogging

2. Reuters – Sudan’s PM selects members of first cabinet since Bashir’s ouster

3. BBC – South Sudan referendum: 99% vote for independence

4. Al Jazeera – One killed in Sudan as thousands rally for faster reform

5. The Guardian – Sudan ‘on path to democracy’ as ex-ruling party is dissolved

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