(Sudan photo Christians, Rev. Hassan Abduraheem Kodi Taour; Abdulmonem Abdumawla, courtesy Middle East Concern)

Todd Nettleton, a spokesman with The Voice of the Martyrs, USA, explains, “We had hoped that Mr. Jasek, the Czech aid worker; and the two Sudanese brothers would be released.  Instead, they were all sentenced to very long prison sentences and found guilty of the crimes they were accused of.”

Middle East Concern added these details:

The court sentenced Petr Jašek to life in prison (a 20+ year sentence) for espionage, to six months in prison for spreading rumors that undermine the authority of the state, to a fine of 100,000 Sudanese Pounds (approx. USD 16,000) for undertaking NGO work without a permit, and to one year in prison each (to be served consecutively) for inciting strife between communities, for entry in and photography of military areas and equipment, and illegal entry into Sudan.

(Photo of Petr Jasek, courtesy VOM)

Jasek was detained two years ago, along with three Sudanese men after helping finance the medical treatment of a student from Darfur who was burnt during a rally.

Hopes were high going into the day because of a decision from January 2nd to release Rev. Kuwa Shamal Abazmam Kurri.  A judge ruled there was a lack of evidence against him.  Since the cases were built on the same evidence, there was some optimism that a similar ruling would be made in the cases against Rev. Hassan Abduraheem Kodi Taour and Mr. Abdulmonem Abdumawla.

However, Middle East Concern — a group that supports people in the Middle East and North Africa who are marginalized, discriminated against, or persecuted for being or becoming Christians — notes that both were sentenced to ten years for abetting Jašek in the crime of espionage, and one year each for inciting strife between communities and spreading rumors that undermine the authority of the state (even though the legal maximum penalty for this last crime is six months in prison).  All of these sentences are to be served consecutively.

And the judge really threw the book at Petr Jasek, the Czech aid worker.  “The sentence against Mr. Jasek is a life-sentence.  Then, he was sentenced additional time ‘for spreading rumors that undermine the authority of the state’, ‘undertaking NGO work without a permit’, ‘inciting strife between communities’, and ‘entry in and photography of military areas‘ as well as the final charge of ‘entering the country illegally’.”

The Czech government is sending a representative to negotiate something on behalf of Mr. Jasek.

Why punish Revs. Hassan and Abdulmonem and Jasek?  It could be the government wanted to make an example of their situation, offers Nettleton.  “I think it sends a warning message.  I think it has a dampening effect on all of the Christians in Sudan, and even foreign Christians who would consider visiting Sudan.”  At this point, the situation is kind of locked in a ‘holding pattern’, he adds, “…waiting for an appeal to be filed, and then who knows what the time frame is at that point for the appeal to be considered, and for the possibility that this conviction would be overturned?”

(Image courtesy VOM-USA)

Watching from the outside, what can we do?  Nettleton says there are ways to write letters of encouragement to these men, through their Prisoner Alert program (click here to get connected), and we can pray.

“Just pray that God will encourage them.  I think of their families, as well — just thinking about the length of time and the severity of this sentence, it would be very disheartening.  So, we pray for encouragement, we pray for the appeal process to go forward, and for there to be favor on that appeal.  Ultimately, we want to pray that God’s will, will be done.”

Petr Jasek (Photo courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs)

According to Open Doors USA’s World Watch List, Sudan is the eighth harshest country for restriction and persecution of Christians. Only about five percent of the Sudanese population is Christian, says The Joshua Project. The rest are overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim.

Jasek and his three companions, Rev. Hassan Abdelrahim Kodi, Rev. Kuwa Shemaal, and Mr. Abdelmoneim Abdelmoula, have repeatedly appeared in court in Sudan since August. They were given several charges including complicity to execute a criminal agreement, waging war against the state, espionage, calling for opposition to the public authority by violence or criminal force, inciting hatred between classes, propagation of a false news article, and entry into and photographing of military areas and equipment. The maximum sentence could be the death penalty.

Their most recent court appearance was on November 14, which we reported on here.

Dr. Jason Peters, Associate Vice President of Voice of the Martyrs, USA, explains the circumstances that led to Jasek’s arrest:

“He was trying to help some Christians who were persecuted, one man in particular…. He (the Sudanese Christian) was actually attacked and tortured and burned. [Jasek] went in there to try and learn more. He’s an international aid worker, he loves to help people in need, particularly Christians who are suffering because of persecution. So [Jasek] went in, and he tried to help him.

“On his way out of the country, [Jasek] was stopped at the airport. It turned out he had been followed the entire time he was in the country. They confiscated his laptop, his camera, and now they’ve kept him in prison. For several months they didn’t even charge him.”

However, Dr. Peters says Jasek continues to cling to his hope in Christ.

“He’s actually been able to reach out to several people [in prison]. He says he’s sharing the Gospel just as effectively as he would outside of prison. He’s said they’re able to have worship services together, they’re singing together, they’re studying Scripture.

“One of [Jasek’s] most treasured possessions, of course, is his Bible. It took a long time for him to get a Bible, but finally through miraculous intervention he ended up having a Bible. So now he is able to use it to encourage the other brothers there and to lead others to Christ who are in prison.”

Voice of the Martyrs has been in contact with Jasek. Dr. Peters shares, “This brother is just an inspirational guy…. We were able to get word out from [Jasek], and he said, ‘God holds the key to my cell. I’ve been talking about persecuted Christians in Sudan for years and now I find myself among them.’

“He’s married, he’s got some children, but he said, ‘It’s okay, because I know God has called me to this place to minister to these brothers.’”

As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the United States and reflect on gratitude, please also take time to lift up Petr Jasek and others who cannot be with their families in prayer, that they would feel the encouragement of Jesus Christ and the Church while in prison. Pray that Jasek and the other Christians would be freed and allowed to return home.

If you’d like to be a direct encouragement, click here to write a letter to Jasek through Voice of the Martyrs!