A young Christian couple in Sudan who have two children together are facing 100 lashes on charges of “adultery” after a sharia (Islamic law) court nullified their marriage following the husband’s conversion to Christianity.
The couple, 34-year-old Hamouda and 25-year-old Nada from Al Jazirah state, got married in 2016 when both were Muslims.
In 2018, after they had been married for two years, Hamouda became a Christian and the couple faced severe backlash from their community. At the time, Nada’s Muslim family filed a case in a sharia court to have her marriage to Hamouda dissolved.
In 2021, Nada also converted to Christianity and returned with their two children to her husband. However, conversion to Christianity is still not socially acceptable in Sudan’s Muslim community.
Nada’s brother charged the couple with adultery under Article 146 of Sudan’s 1991 criminal law based on the Sharia court’s annulment of their marriage, leading to the couple’s arrest last August.
Their lawyer was quoted saying; “The court has interrogated the couple after two of the witnesses told the court that the marriage between the couple is illegal. As a result, they are accused of adultery.”
In the case of adultery by an unmarried person, Article 146 calls for a sentence of flogging and expulsion from the area. If the convicted person is married, adultery is punishable by death by stoning under Article 146.
The couple were released on bail four days after the arrest. Their trial has yet to take place.
Source: International Christian Concern
Please Pray
- Pray for Hamouda, Nada and their children as they face persecution from their family and community.
- Pray that the couple’s trial will be conducted fairly, and that they will not be convicted of adultery.
- Pray for continued growth in their marriage and their faith, especially for Nada as a new Christian.
Our Father in Heaven, you are the defender of prisoners and give aid to your own who suffer injustice. We pray for your children, for Hamouda and Nada and their children, rejoicing in their recent coming faith.
As they face persecution from their family and community we ask according to Colossians 2:6-7 that, “6 just as they received Christ Jesus as Lord, they continue to live their lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as they were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
We also pray for continued growth, by the power of your Holy Spirit, in their marriage and family life especially for Nada as a new Christian. Blessed and Holy Lord Jesus we plead that their trial under Sharia law will be conducted fairly, and that they will not be convicted of adultery on the basis of this false testimony for in your sight they are truly married.
God have mercy. Lord have mercy. Help them to bear a faithful testimony to your work in their lives and bring glory to you.
Praying