Sudan: Treatment of Muslims accused of "Ridda" [Redda], or those Muslims known to have been members of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in the 1970s and 1980s
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 27 October 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SDN35536.E |
| Reference | 7 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Sudan: Treatment of Muslims accused of "Ridda" [Redda], or those Muslims known to have been members of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in the 1970s and 1980s, 27 October 2000, SDN35536.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4bea60.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to Africa Rights, Islamic law in Sudan known as the "September Laws," was first decreed in 1983, contained a provision against Ridda (apostasy, renouncing Islam ) (1995, 288). According to this source, "the Sudan government's assault on Islam in the Nuba mountains is its mostly closely-guarded secret ... mosques, Holy books, zakat, and the Imams themselves are among the targets of the Sudan government, which has declared that true Islam cannot exist in areas outside its control" (ibid, 303). Ustaz Mahmoud Mohamed Taha a prominent Islamic philosopher was executed in January 1985 for "apostasy" by Emergency Courts (ibid., 288; Sudan Update (n.d.).
For detailed information on the government's treatment of Muslims opposed to the regime, please consult Africa Rights report, Facing Genocide: The Nuba of Sudan, pages 278-303.
For information on the treatment of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the UMMA party by the government, please consult SDN35057.E of 4 August 2000, and the numerous Responses on the two topics.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Africa Rights. 1995. Facing Genocide: The Nuba of Sudan. London: Africa Rights.
Sudan Update. n.d. "History of Sudan: Chronology."
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential [London]. 1984-1986.
Africa Research Bulletin [Oxford].
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1999. 2000. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Printing Office.
IRB Databases.
Keesing's Record World Events [Cambridge].
Internet sites including:
Google.
Metacrawler.
Mamma.