Freedom of Religion Under the Sudan Constitution and Laws

The right to freedom of religion and belief is closely linked with the rights to free expression of opinion, to peaceable assembly and freedom of association. In particular, they share the common purpose of assuring to an individual freedom of choice. Moreover, to be effective, each normally requires the use of one or other of the means of dissemination of knowledge and information, which include newspapers, books, pamphlets, petitions, posters, radio, television and motion pictures. Likewise, to be effective, the rights to freedom of religion and free expression of opinion must be linked to freedom of association in the sense of the right to form and to join organisations for the advancement of particular views and interests. This is particularly true of cities and other densely populated areas. Indeed, the essential similarity between these rights was reflected in their embodiment in a single article in earlier Sudan constitutions. A consequence of these similarities is that the denial or infringement of any one of them has further ramifications on the other rights apparently left intact. Accordingly, the present study, while focusing on freedom of religion, will make brief excursions into the related rights of free expression of opinion, assembly and association. Before considering problems raised by freedom of religion, reference must first be made to its necessity.