The four Christians in Sudan who are facing the death penalty were due back in court on Khartoum today.

Release International asked for Christians worldwide to pray for Pastors Hassan Abduraheem and Kowa Shamaal, Abdulmonem Abdumawla and the Czech citizen Petr Jašek.

The four men have been charged with seven crimes, including funding rebel movements in areas such as Darfur and South Kordofan. The two charges that could lead to their execution are "waging war against the state" and spying. 

Human rights groups are increasingly concerned about the growing persecution faced by Christians in Sudan.

World Watch Monitor reports that a crackdown on religious freedom is creating space for radical extremist groups to flourish.

The case was raised in the European Parliament last week when several hundred MEPs signed a resolution protesting the treatment of the men and highlighting their plight.

The resolution states that "the Sudanese authorities impose severe restrictions on freedom of religion; whereas threats against church leaders and the intimidation of Christian communities have continued at an accelerated pace over the past years; whereas Czech Christian aid worker Petr Jašek, Sudanese pastors Hassan Abduraheem Kodi Taour, Kuwa Shamal and Darfuri graduate student Abdulmonem Abdumawla Issa Abdumawla have been detained for nine months already by the NISS [National Intelligence Security Services] and are facing trial on charges of highlighting alleged Christian suffering in war-ravaged areas of Sudan; whereas in recent years there has been an increase in trials on charges of apostasy and subsequent death sentences".

It calls on the African Union and the Sudanese Government to abolish the death penalty and reaffirm that freedom of religion, conscience or belief is a universal human right that needs to be protected everywhere and for everyone; and demands that the Sudanese Government repeal any legal provisions that penalise or discriminate against individuals for their religious beliefs, especially in the case of apostasy.

It also "expresses its concern with regard to the increased crackdown by the NISS on citizens who are civil society activists and calls on Sudan to release detainees immediately and unconditionally".

Last month, the former Bishop of Kadugli Diocese in South Kordofan said the government of Sudan was "not interested in the Christian religion". Andudu Adam Elnail said, "There is no freedom for us, we cannot build churches. We are treated as second-class citizens."

Sudan, where Christians make up one in 20 of the population, is ranked at number eight on the Open Doors' 2016 World Watch List of countries that have the worst record for Christian persecution.