Supporters gather for a prayer vigil at Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church.

JUBA, South Sudan (MS) — A court has ruled that committees the Sudanese government imposed on a North Khartoum church in order to enable Muslim investors to take it over were illegal, sources said.

A victory in the Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church’s four-year battle to retain ownership of its property, the Aug. 31 ruling by the Administrative Court of Appeal ruled the Ministry of Guidance and Religious Endowments interfered with church matters, the sources said.

The church, which belongs to the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church, has been subject to arrests and demolition of its property as the congregation has objected to the attempted takeover. Two South Sudanese pastors were jailed since December 2014 and January respectively, charged with capital crimes, over their support for the congregation’s fight to prevent the take-over by Muslim investors.

Yat Michael, 49, and Peter Yein Reith, 36, could have been sentenced to death or whipping had they been convicted of the serious charges concocted against them by Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services. They were convicted of lesser charges on Aug. 5 and released on time served.

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