By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy Need
(Worthy News) - Masked gunmen have attacked a Christian government official in Sudan for arranging the return of church properties to Christian communities, several sources confirmed.
Botrous Badawi, a Christian and advisor to the minister of Sudan's Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments, was recovering from injuries Friday after the attack south of Khartoum, the capital.
In the July 2 incident, gunmen forced his vehicle to stop, Christians said. Armed with assault rifles, they reportedly beat him and threatened to kill him if he continued to advocate for the return of confiscated property from the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church.
The attack came after the official received numerous threatening text messages, according to well-informed Christians.
“He did not recognize the attackers but suspects they were members of the Islamist-oriented National Intelligence Security Service,” noted advocacy group Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC).
STANDOFF CONTINUES
The security agency had been disbanded by the transitional government and replaced with a new organization.
The standoff comes as Christians in Sudan continue to await the return of their church properties seized by the Islamist regime of former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir.
The leader was deposed in April 2019.
“Since then, some of the changes brought about by the transitional government led to the expectation that the properties would be returned to their rightful owners,” VOMC said.
Christians asked prayers for justice and Botrous Badawi’s “complete physical healing as he recovers from the beatings experienced during the attack.”