Sudan: Bits of peace

International | U.S. minister reports "mixed" progress in personal talks with Islamist leader | Mindy Belz

For Samuel Dobai Amum of Khartoum, there was no apparent hope of getting out of Soba Prison. For Gary Kusunoki of southern California, there was no hope of getting in. But after an unprecedented opening from Sudan's Islamic government, the two pastors met inside a Sudanese jail cell there May 21, and only hours later, Mr. Amum was released.

Authorities in Sudan jailed Mr. Amum in April after confiscating land on which he erected a mud brick church 11 years ago. Mr. Amum was ordered to pay for the land—7 million Sudanese dinars, or $2,700—or demolish the Episcopal church, known as St. Matthew's Parish, himself. Lacking funds for the land and refusing to destroy a building he said was devoted to God, Mr. Amum was at the mercy of the court. Judge Kamal Abd-Rahaman Alli declared him "rude before the law" and sentenced him to indefinite imprisonment.

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June 14, 2003, Vol. 18, No. 23

Tyranny of the minority Jun. 7, 2003	Middle East: No easy answers May. 31, 2003	Memorial Day 2003 May. 24, 2003
Cool hot spots May. 17, 2003	No man's land May. 10, 2003	Staying underground May. 3, 2003