The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has revealed of discussions with Sudanese officials to annul an article from the 1991 penal code, which outlaws apostasy.
USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins and Commissioner Anurima Bhargava traveled to Khartoum from February 26 to March 1 to meet with Sudanese government officials, including Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments Nasreldin Mofreh, religious leaders, representatives of civil society, and women’s rights advocates to gain a firsthand perspective on how the country’s sweeping and historic changes have impacted religious freedom conditions, the Commission announced on its website.
Bhargava told a seminar in Khartoum that her Commission is discussing with Sudanese officials to formally repeal Article 126 of the penal code.
Part of USCIRF’s mission is to monitor the behavior and decisions of transitional authorities and make recommendations to officials in Washington, she was quoted as saying by Sudan Tribune.
Perkins expressed his admiration in the Sudanese revolution and its success in bringing change. But he called for continuing on the path of democracy.
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the US Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on threats to religious freedom abroad.
The Commission makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief.
