Pastors Yat Michael Ruot and Peter Yein Reith, who are currently incarcerated in a Sudan prison because of their Christian faith, are in grave danger now that their judge has found sufficient evidence to formally charge both of them, with two of those charges carrying potential death sentences.
According to the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), the two Presbyterian pastors have to prepare for their own defence when their trial resumes in the coming days, but the odds are unfortunately stacked against both men.
"The attorney requested access with his clients—a right that is guaranteed both under Sudanese law and international law—but the judge only had authority to grant him visitation at the court. While the judge offered the attorney 10 or 15 minutes at the court to prepare his defence, the attorney protested that such time is not adequate to prepare a defence, let alone a defence for charge that carry the death penalty," the LCLJ reported.
Even the pastors' own attorney was recently arrested since he defended the same church Pastor Michael preached and voiced his protest against Christian persecution in Sudan.
However, ACLJ officials said all hope is not yet lost since they have launched a massive letter-writing campaign to save both men. The officials said they are working with Mariam Ibraheem, a Christian woman who was also imprisoned in Sudan because of her faith but was released on June 23 last year.
Ibraheem suffered in prison and gave birth to her daughter during that difficult time. During her early days in prison, she was promised freedom if only she renounced her faith. But Ibraheem stood strong and refused to denounce God.
"She is a reminder that your voice matters," the ACLJ officials said.
