This is, of course, the same Sudanese president wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide, and shielded from prosecution by the African Union and Arab League, with the support of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Here, he lays out his plans for the final Islamization of the remainder of Sudan, with a hefty dose of Arab imperialism. This plan will amount to cultural genocide, likely with some of the old-fashioned kind as well. Life will be made extremely difficult for non-Arabic speakers, and all the more so for non-Muslims, so that they “feel themselves subdued,” per Qur’an 9:29, and to coerce them into converting or leaving.
“Sharia law to be tightened if Sudan splits – president,” from BBC News, December 19 (thanks to Sam):
The north of Sudan will reinforce its Islamic laws if the south secedes as a result of next month’s referendum, President Omar al-Bashir has said.
Mr Bashir said the constitution would then be changed, making Islam the only religion, Sharia the only law and Arabic the only official language.
Correspondents say his comments are likely to alarm thousands of non-Muslim southerners living in the north.
They are currently protected from some of the stronger aspects of Sharia.
“If south Sudan secedes, we will change the constitution,” Mr Bashir told a gathering of his supporters in the eastern town of Gederef on Sunday.
Commence Operation Out-Saudi The Saudis:
“Sharia and Islam will be the main source for the constitution, Islam the official religion and Arabic the official language,” the president added.
The imposition of Sharia on the non-Muslim south was one of the reasons for the long civil war, which ended when a peace deal was signed in 2005, the BBC’s James Copnall in Khartoum reports.
Under the accord, an interim constitution was drafted that removed Sharia law from the south and also recognised Sudan’s cultural and social diversity, our correspondent says.
President Bashir said on Sunday there would be no question of this diversity when a new constitution was drafted, if the south became independent
Senior northern officials are just starting to acknowledge publicly that South Sudan – where most people follow traditional beliefs and Christianity – are almost certain to choose to separate in the referendum.
Separately, Mr Bashir also commented on a recent high-profile case in which a video posted on the internet showed a woman being flogged by police in the north.
Watch the video. All of it. It is disturbing, but this is part and parcel of the cruel, backward, and morally defective legal system that must not be allowed to advance against the rights and protections of Western constitutions. One report adds that women in Sudan are punished with “600,000 lashes a year” according to the total sentences carried out.
“If she is lashed according to Sharia law, there is no investigation. Why are some people ashamed? This is Sharia,” the president said.
Human rights activists have accused the police of treating the woman in a particularly brutal way not compatible with Islam.
Qur’an 24:2 on floggings: “Let no compassion move you.” They were just following orders.