Author: Charmaine Hedding, president of Shai Fund
The Intersection of Sexual Violence and Religious Persecution in Sudan
I recently received harrowing reports from Christian communities we support in Sudan. Even before the civil war, and increasingly throughout it, I’ve witnessed how the violence, particularly against women and girls, devastates entire communities. Sexual violence, abduction, and forced marriages are systematically used to inflict trauma, fracture the social fabric, and destabilize these communities. Women, often the caretakers of families, are targeted, and the ripple effect leaves families broken, children orphaned, and entire communities in disarray. This gendered violence is more than an act of war; it is a tool of terror designed to weaken Christian communities, disrupt social cohesion, and erase their identity.
The Escalation of Persecution Since 2023
In 2023, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) unleashed severe persecution on Christian communities. Attacks have been widespread, particularly on churches and Christian places of worship in Khartoum and other regions. These spaces have been looted, destroyed, and turned into military outposts by warring factions. The strategic targeting of Christian worship spaces, combined with the violent oppression of Christian communities, further underscores the severity of this persecution.
Women: Bearing the Brunt of Persecution
Throughout conflict zones like Sudan, gender-based violence is used systematically as a weapon of war. Christian women and girls, especially, face a double vulnerability—persecuted both for their faith and their gender. In regions like Sudan, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), extremist groups such as Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, and ISIS affiliates use sexual violence as a means of terror and control.
The chaos of Sudan’s civil war has worsened the dangers for Christian women, who are often subjected to rape, forced marriages, and abduction. Sudan’s conservative legal system offers little protection, and crimes such as rape frequently go unpunished. UN Women has reported that in conflict zones, rape is used not only as a byproduct of war but also as a strategic weapon to break communities and instill fear.
Testimonies from the Front Lines
The stories from Sudan provide a grim snapshot of the violence Christian women face daily:
1. Sexual Violence and Exploitation:
H’s story is a heartbreaking example. After her husband and son were killed, she and her daughters were subjected to rape by Janjaweed fighters, one of many examples of the widespread sexual violence that has become a weapon of war in Darfur. Women like H are not only enduring the trauma of losing their families but are also being physically violated in attempts to break their spirits and communities.
2. Forced Conversions and Religious Persecution:
In Darfur, “A”’s testimony describes how Christians are coerced into Islamic practices, illustrating how religious and gender-based oppression intersect. She describes how widows and mothers with breastfeeding children face harassment and threats, with children being forced to read the Quran and participate in Islamic practices against their will. This forced religious oppression is yet another layer of persecution that falls heavily on women who are trying to protect their families while maintaining their faith.
3. Widows and Mothers:
The story of “S,” a widow whose daughter was raped and murdered by RSF forces, highlights the severe vulnerability faced by the many women who are left to care for children alone. Deprived of basic needs like food and shelter, their suffering is immense, as they face the unbearable loss of their loved ones. They are often left without basic needs such as food, shelter, or medical care, further intensifying their vulnerability.
Recently, I encountered a case where a woman’s husband converted to Christianity. Since they were both born into Muslim families, the wife’s family pressured her to divorce her husband under Sharia law. Then, when she eventually converted and decided to reunite with him, her brother accused her of adultery. He brought her before the court where adultery is punishable by 100 lashes. Fortunately, I was able to move her out of the country before the court judgement, as no one can survive 100 lashings especially after just giving birth. This example starkly illustrates how religious persecution intersects with gender-based violence in Sudan.
Gender-Based Violence in Broader Africa
The persecution of women and girls in Sudan is part of a broader pattern across Africa, where gender-based violence in conflict zones is rampant. In the DRC, sexual violence has reached epidemic levels, with 40% of women in some regions having experienced rape. Boko Haram in Nigeria continues to abduct schoolgirls, forcing them into sexual slavery, as seen in the infamous Chibok kidnappings of over 200 Christian girls. Yet, despite global outcry, similar incidents continue today.
Throughout these regions, women's bodies have become battlegrounds, with rape used as a tactic to terrorize communities and displace populations. These crimes destroy the social fabric of entire societies, leaving deep psychological and physical scars that linger for a lifetime – long after the violence ends.
A Call to Action
The intersection of sexual violence and religious persecution in Sudan and Africa, cannot be ignored. These – victims face heightened threats due to their gender and faith, making them uniquely vulnerable in conflict situations. The use of sexual violence as a weapon in these conflicts highlights the critical need to address their double vulnerability and develop targeted mechanisms for their protection.
There is a clear interconnection between women’s rights and religious freedom. These issues should not be treated in isolation. Protecting religious freedom and ensuring women’s rights are mutually reinforcing goals. By raising awareness and advocating for justice, we can help restore the dignity and safety of women and girls who face unimaginable suffering due to their faith and gender.
It’s important to acknowledge that men also suffer persecution—often through forced displacement, violence, and imprisonment. However, what has struck me most in the recent updates from the communities I support is the widespread sexual violence against women and girls. This violence doesn’t just devastate women personally—it tears apart entire communities. The strategic use of gender-based violence to humiliate, control, and destroy leaves scars on families and societies that last for generations.
Addressing this issue is key to restoring the dignity of women alongside rebuilding communities that have been shattered by war. We must not overlook the sexual violence being wielded as a weapon against women and girls, nor the double persecution they face because of their gender and faith.