Sudan, after more than 30 years of Islamist rule, has outlined extensive reforms. For instance, allowing non-Muslims to drink alcohol, and scrapping the apostasy law and public flogging.
“We will drop all the laws violating the human rights in Sudan,” Minister of Justice; Nasredeen Abdulbari said. A bunch of new laws was passed last week but this is the first public explanation of the new laws. Under the new laws, women no longer need permission from a male relative to travel with their children. Furthermore, Sudan has also banned female genital mutilation (FGM).
The reforms come after long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was removed last year following massive street protests. The current government is an unsettled mixture of the group which wanted Mr. Bashir out and his former allies in the military. Who sequentially staged the coup against him.
New Law On Alcohol In Sudan
Non-Muslims are now allowed to consume alcohol in private. However, the ban on Muslim drinking remains, Mr. Abdulbari said. Importantly, he said Non-Muslims could still be punished if they are caught drinking with Muslims, the Sudan Tribune reports.
He explained further that the government was trying to safeguard the rights of the country’s non-Muslims. The estimated 3% of the population, who are non-Muslims are now allowed to drink, import, and sell alcohol.
“We are keen to demolish any kind of discrimination that was enacted by the old regime. We want to move toward equality of citizenship and a democratic transformation,” he said. The laws were initially approved in April, but they would just take effect.
Under Mr. Bashir, the morality police in Sudan would often carry out public flogging for various misconducts. However, according to Mr. Abdulbari, this punishment is now abolished.
