Pastor’s Son Freed After More Than a Year in Prison but Remains in Khartoum, Sudan, Amid Safety Concerns

After more than a year in prison in Sudan, Amin Ismail, the son of a Christian pastor now living in exile, has regained his freedom. His family and organizations following the case warn that the danger is not over. He remains in Khartoum and is seeking a safe way to leave the capital.

Ismail left Kobar prison after being detained in July 2025. He had returned to the city to visit his wife, and he was arrested the next day.

According to International Christian Concern, the courts had on several occasions determined that there were insufficient grounds to hold him, yet he remained behind bars for months, a record that underscores the need for honest dealing in legal proceedings (Proverbs 11:1). After his release, Ismail said, “I thank God for my release. I know it was the Lord who opened the door, and I continue to trust Him to get me out of the capital safe.”

The case is connected to a wider pressure on his father, Pastor Ismail Azzaz. According to the organization that accompanies the family, the pastor left Sudan after refusing to hand over church property amid disputes over control of ecclesiastical lands and structures. The family considers their son’s later detention to be linked to those same tensions. Azzaz celebrated his son’s release but remains deeply concerned for the safety of Amin, his daughter-in-law, and the rest of the family.

Release does not mean that Amin can immediately resume a normal life. ICC says his safety remains uncertain while he is in Khartoum. The organization also said it had received information about alleged attempts to secure his release in order to attack him outside prison. ICC did not publicly identify the persons concerned and did not provide further details on those allegations. Ismail asked for prayer as he seeks a safe route out of the capital: “Please keep praying for me and my family.”

The case takes place against a backdrop in which various Sudanese congregations have for years complained of pressure over the ownership and administration of their buildings. In some cases, authorities or groups linked to power structures have recognized alternative leadership committees, which has led to internal disputes and legal proceedings over who controls certain properties. Christian leaders argue that such interventions weaken congregations and leave their property open to confiscation.

In September, new complaints arose concerning property belonging to a branch of the Church of Christ in Sudan in Khartoum. Those responsible for the congregation said there had been attempts to transfer control of the assets after years of administrative disputes.

In October 2025, Presbyterian evangelical pastor Daud Fudul Kachu was arrested in Atbara amid a dispute over property used by his church.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)