Trial begins for pastor accused of espionage in Sudan

The trial of three Sudanese and one Czech pastor in Khartoum, Sudan had begun on Sunday. Czech pastor Petr Jasek was charged with illegal entry to Sudan and spreading false information. The other three defendants, Rev. Hassan Abdelrahim Kodi, Rev. Kuwa Shemaal and activist Abdelmoneim Abdelmoula are being tried in connection to Jasek's case.

The defendants are also being tried for espionage, conspiring against the state, entering and photographing military areas, calling for violence against the state and provoking violence amongst sects, according to Dabanga Sudan. Kodi, Shemaal and Jasek, were detained by authorities in December 2015. Although Shemaal was released, he was arrested again with activist Abdelmoneim Abdelmoula in May.

The publication reported that the prosecutor wants the highest punishment for them, said Dimas Marajan, spokesman for the defense team. "The judge also heard the investigating consultant, who spoke on behalf of the security apparatus, and who filed the official complaint last Sunday. Tomorrow the defence and prosecution will be able to question the consultant," Marajan added.

Dabanga Sudan also reported that Kodi and Shemaal had been held incommunicado for several months prior to the filing of charges. According to Sudanese law, the accused must be brought to trial within 45 days.

The Foreign Desk reported in March that Jasek, who was filming Christian persecution in the country, had been arrested for entering Sudan illegally and falsifying a statement of a burn victim.

One key evidence used against Jasek is his own film allegedly showing the victim narrating that his burn injury was a result of a Muslim attack. The victim later told authorities that the injury was actually sustained from a car accident, according to the report.

According to the Sudan Tribune, the prosecutors are using seized documents and videos from the laptops and phones of the accused as evidence against them.

Jasek denied his statement presented in the indictment, citing lack of translation. The second defendant also denied his statement while the third and fourth approved the statement presented by the prosecutor. 

"The State Security Prosecution has filed serious charges against the defendants," Marajan told Dabanga Sudan. "But they are difficult to prove in terms of the law. In my opinion, the position of the defendants is reassuring," he continued.

The Sudan-based Human Rights and Development Organization frequently receives reports of detention of Christians in Sudan, according to Dabanga Sudan.