Freedom of religion in Sudan

The 2019 transitional constitution of Sudan guarantees freedom of religion and does not include sharia as a source of law. This is different from the 2005 constitution under the leadership of Omar al-Bashir, who had made leaving Islam or speaking badly about it against the law. During Bashir's time, Shia Muslims and people trying to share other religions were also treated unfairly, and Christians had limits on their religious practices.

In July 2020, leaving Islam was no longer a crime that could lead to severe punishment. Then, in September 2020, the new government decided to keep religion and government matters separate. This change has helped make religious life more open and fair for people in Sudan.

Religious demographics

Sudan is a large country with an area of 967,500 square miles (2,510,000 km²) and a population of 40.2 million people. Most people live in the northern part, where many speak Arabic and follow Islam. About 70 percent of the population practices Islam, mainly as Sunni Muslims.

In the southern regions, people often follow traditional beliefs or Christianity. Around 25 percent practice traditional beliefs, while Christians make up the third largest group. Christians are mainly found in the south and the Nuba Mountains, but many also live in northern cities like Khartoum due to movement during past conflicts. There are various Christian groups, including Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Orthodox communities, as well as smaller groups like Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventists.

Religion has been important in Sudan's history and politics. Since independence in 1956, northern Muslims have often led the country. After a peace agreement in 2005, both Muslims and Christians were included in important government roles. Different religious groups have formed political parties and alliances, shaping the country's history and government.

Status

The law in Sudan allows people to practice their religion freely, but there are differences between the north and the south. In the north, Islamic law (Shari'a) is used to make rules, while the south has its own constitution that supports religious freedom.

In the north, changing from Islam to another religion used to be a serious crime, but this rule changed before 2020. People who criticized Islam could face time in prison, but these rules were rarely used. In the south, there are no such punishments, and people often share their beliefs openly.

Schools in the north must teach about Islam, and classes are usually in Arabic. Christian students can sometimes skip these classes, but private Christian schools still need to hire teachers for Islamic lessons. This has made it harder for Christians to feel fully included in the north.

In the north, Friday is a day for prayer, so government offices and businesses close. Christian workers are supposed to get two hours on Sunday for worship, but this doesn’t always happen. In the south, offices and schools follow a Monday-to-Friday schedule, with Sunday for worship.

Restrictions

In the north, the government did not always strongly enforce rules about religious freedom, but it did not fully respect different religions. The government favored Muslims, for example by helping build mosques but not churches. Many Christians from the south who lived in the north faced unfair treatment in areas like jobs and education.

The government made it harder for foreign groups to come and help with Christian activities, but allowed some foreign Christian leaders to visit their local communities. Officials sometimes watched religious meetings at mosques and churches. Leaders of both religions often avoided talking about politics during their services.

Abuses

There were some reports that security forces sometimes harassed people or used threats because of their religious beliefs. These reports became less common over time. For example, in 2001, a man named Aladin Omer Agabani Mohammed was arrested in Khartoum for changing his religion from Islam to Christianity. He was kept in a place where he could not talk to anyone for three months and was reportedly mistreated. He was later released but had to check in with security forces every day. In early 2002, the police watched him closely and stopped him from traveling to Uganda to study, saying he had left Islam.

Current situation

The government in Sudan has been working to improve how it treats people of different religions. It has allowed Christian newspapers to be published and shared in the north, and let a church broadcast religious programs on the radio from Khartoum. Important government positions are held by both Muslims and Christians. The government has also worked with Christian leaders and helped improve the Catholic cathedral in Khartoum.

However, some groups say that problems still exist. They report that some Christians have faced difficulties, including having their church property taken away. There have also been reports of tensions and conflicts in some areas of the country. In 2025, Sudan was considered one of the more difficult places in the world for Christians to live.

Social attitudes

In the northern part of Sudan, Muslims who showed interest in Christianity or decided to become Christians often faced strong social pressure to change their minds. Some universities also pressured women to wear headscarves while attending classes, even though the general social pressure for women to wear headscarves in public in the north lessened over time. The government arrested and detained 16 people related to the killing of Mohamed Taha, the main editor of the newspaper al-Wafaq, in September 2006. Taha had written an article that many people found controversial about the origins of Muhammad.