PHOTO CREDIT: WIKIPEDIA
Since the control of the Rescue Revolution Council, the military cover was used by the Sudanese Islamic Movement on June 30, 1989, to seize power in Sudan. The new coup regime immediately adopted policies under the guise of moderate Sudanese citizens, which were rooted in Islamic political ideologies aimed at consolidating their control. To achieve this, they restricted freedoms in both public and private life through the adoption of repressive laws and regulations, including Public Order laws.
To implement these policies, they relied on numerous billboards that publicly raised Islamic slogans to influence a new Islamic culture. This campaign included the artistic display of the name of Allah on national Sudanese television.
The regime’s Islamization efforts aimed to use Islam as a religious umbrella to legitimize banning any criticism and simultaneously attack opposition voices. In a tactical move, they renamed the civil war against the SPLM to "Jihadi war" to mobilize civilians for frontline fighting. Systematic plans included the establishment of organizations such as Jihad Call (Neda Aljehad) and television shows broadcast every Friday evening called Sahat Alfeda. Additionally, Friday prayer speeches were utilized by regime-affiliated imams to play a significant role in spreading the regime's objectives.
The regime continued to use mosques as gathering points to enforce their objectives, calling for night prayers to support the regime at least two nights a week, known as Giam Alil.
At some universities in Sudan, during the past regime, mosques were used as hidden places to store iron bars and other materials by Islamic Movement students to incite violence against opposition students, especially during university association elections.
During the Sudanese 2018 revolution, mosques once again played a political role. Regime-affiliated Muslim imams used Friday speeches to undermine peaceful protests and label the protesters as having agendas against the interests of the Sudanese people. They also invoked Islamic teachings that prohibit standing against a Muslim governor.
After the outbreak of war on April 15, 2023, mosques became legitimate targets for warring parties. Shelling targeted numerous Muslim imams who supported the cessation of war, leading to arrests. In Khartoum State alone, at least 12 mosques were shelled. Similar incidents occurred in El Geneina of West Darfur and El Fasher of North Darfur. On June 23, 2024, the RSF targeted the Altijania Sufi mosque in the Eltigania neighborhood of El Fasher, where residents had taken shelter. This incident resulted in the death of eight children and injuries to at least twelve others, including children. It is noteworthy that the general commander of the RSF, General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, and other significant figures like Musa Hilal and Major General Ali Yagoub, are associated with the Tijania Sufi order.
Historically, mosques in Sudan have been respected and kept away from political and war targets. However, since 1989, the Islamic Movement regime has transformed mosques into theaters for mobilization and political messaging. The events show that political Islamists have no limits when it comes to power struggles. For instance, during the 2004 Darfur conflict, at least 19 women and their infants were burned inside Alsura village in Central Darfur State during attacks targeting civilians from the Fur tribe, simply because they shared ethnic affiliations with the rebels.
Conclusively, political Islam has misused places of worship for political purposes and continues to target them during conflicts. This has undermined the soft values of those required to join the military, putting them in the same position as political Islamist leaders who disregard the respect and protection of the rights to freedom of worship.
By: Mohamed Badawi
Director Monitoring and Documentation Program
ACJPS