The Sudanese government has reversed a number of hardline Islamist policies which have been in existence for over four decades.
The country’s justice minister has announced that female genital mutilation is banned.
The new government also announced that non-Muslims will now be permitted to consume alcoholic beverages.
The nation in the Horn of Africa had banned the consumption of alcohol, even though 3% of its population is non-Muslim.
The then president, Jaafar Nimeiri, was the head of state who introduced Islamic law in 1983. His decision led to the dumping of all whisky into the Nile.
Stronger women’s rights
However, there has been intermittent peace in Sudan since the autocrat Omar el-Bashir – who upheld Islamic law during his three decades in power – was overthrown in April last year.
The renewal of democracy has brought with it an erosion of various forms of discrimination as the many rebel factions that overthrew el-Bashir have smoked the peace pipe.
Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari said the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) is in keeping with a conscious effort to strengthen women’s rights.
However, he noted that although alcohol consumption is permissible for non-Muslims, it is still banned for all Muslims in the country.
Usually anyone caught going contrary to sharia law in Sudan can expect a flogging.
Decriminalised apostasy
The country has also decriminalised apostasy. “We [will] drop all the laws violating human rights in Sudan,” Abdulbari said, in an interview quoted by the BBC.
Women will no longer need a permit from male members of their families to travel with their children.
“We are keen to demolish any kind of discrimination that was enacted by the old regime and to move towards equality of citizenship and a democratic transformation,” the justice minister said.
Before the new reforms, anyone judged to have renounced Islam in Sudan faced punishment. Some apostates were made to face the death penalty.
E A Alanore
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