Sudan sentences Czech worker to 20 years for ‘spying’

A Sudanese court in Khartoum has sentenced a Czech missionary to over 20 years in jail on the basis of three charges including “spying” and inciting hatred, according to his lawyer Omar Al-Faruk Shmina.

Petr Jasek, who was arrested in December 2015, was found guilty of “entering the country without a visa… spying… taking pictures of military installations…inciting hatred…and publishing fake news,” Shmina confirmed.

Jasek was arrested after entering the country “illegally” from neighbouring South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, and travelling to the South Kordofan state.

The Czech foreign ministry in Prague confirmed that Jasek had been sentenced by a court in Khartoum and given a 20-year jail term; a verdict which was allegedly not backed by facts according to the ministry who will begin negotiation talks for Jasek’s release with the Sudanese foreign ministry “immediately”. According to Czech media, Jasek had travelled to Sudan to help local Christians at the time of his arrest. Jasek was arrested with three other Sudanese men after financing the medical treatment of a student who sustained burns during a rally, Release International confirmed.

“Sudanese officials accuse Petr Jasek and three Sudanese men of funding rebel movements in areas such as South Kordofan and Darfur,” the Christian organisation said in relation to the of two conflict-hit areas in the country.

All four have been accused of “at least seven crimes, including ‘waging war against the state’ and spying,” it further explained.

The same Khartoum court also sentenced Hassan Abdel Rahim, a Sudanese priest, to 14-years in prison, though it is not clear whether Abdel Rahim is linked to Jasek’s arrest. The court also imprisoned activist Abdel Moneim Abdul Mulli for 13 years, according to the defence’s lawyer.

“We will appeal the verdicts,” their lawyer said.

A Sudanese court previously adjourned the trial of Jasek in November last year when proceedings against him began in August.

MEMO contacted the Sudanese and Czech embassies for comment but neither responded.