Sudan Religion

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SUDAN RELIGION



III. The Role of Religion
Contrary to popular mythology in the West, religion is not and has never been a chief incendiary of the civil war in the South.

The Republic of Sudan is largely Muslim, and nowhere are Christians a majority, even in the South. Christians constitute approximately 5% of the total population, and are represented by more than double that percentage in the National Assembly. The religious dispersion in the South is 17% Christian, 18% Muslim, and 65% animist.

Since independence, Sudan has never attempted to impose Sharia hudud punishments on Christians or override Christian practice in family law matters such as marriage, divorce, or inheritance.

Freedom of religion is further augmented in the 14th Constitutional Decree. It declares: "Freedom of religion, belief, worship rites, dawaa, missionary and preaching activity are guaranteed to all, and no citizen shall be coerced to embrace any religion or creed." No religious test oath is imposed as a condition of holding any public office, unlike in Great Britain where Anglicanism is required of the Royal Family.

In sum, the religious freedom decrees fully satisfy the religious plank of the IGAD Declaration of Principles, which provides: "FREEDOM OF BELIEF AND WORSHIP AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICE SHALL BE GUARANTEED IN FULL TO ALL SUDANESE CITIZENS."

Freedom of religion in Sudan is celebrated not only in letter, but in spirit. Churches flourish everywhere, and Khartoum is brimming with scores. The Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury are greeted with universal applause.

Churches are frequently situated within blocks of mosques, and Christians and Muslims are integrated in neighborhoods, professional and social clubs, and in a broad array of similar community organizations. There are no religious ghettoes anywhere in Sudanese life. Christians educate their children in public and Christian schools, and the reputation of the latter ...