Christians in Sudan request prayer for Rafat Samir, chair of the Evangelical Community Council (a committee of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church denomination, responsible for managing the denomination’s properties). On 17th July 2017 he has to appear before the Criminal Court in Bahri (Khartoum North).
In 2012 the denomination dismissed the previous chair of the committee, Hamad Muhammad Salah, for committing fraud, and appointed Rafat Samir to replace him. However, Mr Salah complained to the government, which “reinstated” him even though the government has no legal authority to appoint someone to a church committee.
Since his “reinstatement” Mr Salah has been “selling” property belonging to the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church to businessmen aligned with the government, against the wishes of the church. On several occasions church members have been detained or physically assaulted when they were peacefully protesting against these “sales”.
In 2016 an administrative court ruled that Rafat Samir is the legal chair of the Community Council, not Mr Salah. However, Mr Salah has now accused Rafat Samir and his assistant Daniel Williams of trespass, criminal possession (pretending to be a church representative) and illegally impersonating the chair of the Community Council. The criminal court has now begun a case against Rafat Samir, based on these charges.
MAY BE CIRCULATED TO GENERAL MAILING LISTS, OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS, AND QUOTED FROM FREELY IN REPORTS CITING “MIDDLE EAST CONCERN” AS THE SOURCE OF THE INFORMATION.
Prayer points
Sudanese Christians request prayer:
a. that government efforts to confiscate church properties will cease, together with efforts to demolish church buildings belonging to other denominations
b. for wisdom and peace for Rafat Samir, Daniel Williams and their lawyer during the legal proceedings
c. that the judge will act fairly, recognise Rafat Samir as the chair of the committee, and acquit the two men of all the charges against them
d. that Sudanese Christians will experience the peace of the Lord, and for an end to the pressures against them
