The government continues to deny the Roman Catholic Church permission to build churches while it destroys Christian schools, churches, and centers. Catholic priests face random detention and interrogation by police. A Canadian Catholic priest was expelled in August with no official explanation. Islamic organizations associated with the banned Ummah and Democratic Unionist parties are regularly denied permission to hold public gatherings. Their leaders were harassed and detained intermittently in 1999.
Apostasy is a capital crime.
Women face discrimination in family matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance, which are governed by Sharia. Nine female students in Khartoum were flogged in June on charges of obscene acts, which apparently referred to their wearing trousers. Public order police frequently harass women and monitor their dress for adherence to Islamic standards of modesty. Female genital mutilation occurs despite legal prohibition, and rape is reportedly routine in war zones. There are no independent trade unions.