SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - Sudan Justice Minister clarifies repeal of strict laws

13/7/2020: Radio Dabanga - Sudan Justice Minister clarifies repeal of strict laws

 Radio Dabanga report on Justice Minister Nasreldin Abdelbari’s clarification of Sudan’s legal reforms.

 Abdelbari said the amendments are linked to “agreements made with the rebel movements during the peace talks in Juba,” calling on Sudanese people and political parties to broadly discuss “challenging” old laws.

 Abdelbari said that issues around the alcohol trade “will be left to discussions about Sudan’s future constitution,” pointing to the prospect of alcohol being restricted again “if that is what the Sudanese want.”

 Abdelbari said apostasy was abolished as a capital offence because “it threatens social peace,” and it has been replaced with another article that criminalises apostasy but demands that prosecutors protect those accused of apostasy.

 Abdelbari stressed “the urgent need to establish freedoms and ensure the Rule of Law without discrimination” in saying the amendments aim to align Sudan’s criminal laws with the 2019 Constitutional Declaration.