Islamists desecrate Orthodox and Presbyterian churches in Sudan

A damaged building and annex of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Photo: EBRAHIM HAMID/AFP via Getty Images

On December 1, 2025, two Christian churches in Port Sudan were desecrated: unknown perpetrators left red inscriptions with the Islamic shahada and other slogans on the walls of an Orthodox church and the building of the Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The incident was reported by The Christian Post.

According to the UK-based human rights organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide, which monitors persecution of Christians globally, the Presbyterian church was defaced with the phrase “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger,” along with a Qur’anic verse. The vandals left the inscription “Allah is eternal” on the walls of the Orthodox church. The desecration took place in the city center – directly across from a police station.

Despite the public location, local authorities reportedly took no action. Parishioners of the Presbyterian church chose not to file a complaint to avoid further tension and covered the graffiti themselves.

CSW’s chief executive, Scot Bauer, noted that the surge of religious hostility amid the civil war is deeply alarming and emphasized that Christian communities must be able to gather for prayer without fear.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that French intelligence warned of a rise in Islamist attacks on Christians.

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