New Sudan Constitution Grants Concession to Non-Muslims

Today the AP in a story carried by the Los Angeles Times reports that Sudan's National Assembly has adopted a new Constitution. (See earlier related posting.) The new charter moves the country away from complete Islamic rule. For the first time, the Constitution protects freedom of religion and expression. After a peace agreement with the country's southern rebels, the new Constitution provides that Islamic law will not be applied in the south of the country which is mainly Christian and animist. It also removes the present requirement that the country's President be a Muslim, paving the way for Christian rebel leader John Garang to be sworn in as First Vice President.