Stories from the Heart of the Battlefield Places of Worship in Khartoum: Between Destruction and Reconstruction| Sudanow Magazine

Khartoum (Sudanow)

As the war in Sudan enters its fourth year, it revives memories of its chaotic early days. Around this time three years ago, Sudan witnessed one of the fiercest wars in its modern history, marked by systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure and state institutions. Even places of worship—once considered safe havens for civilians during natural disasters and conflicts—became targets of the rebel militia and its mercenaries.

Sudanow documented the extent of the destruction that affected places of worship and interviewed Professor Mustafa Hasabo Bashir Hasabo, a lawyer and Professor of Comparative Jurisprudence at the University of the Holy Qur’an, as a direct witness to these events. He stated that the “brutal Janjaweed attacks on places of worship clearly reflect the malice, moral corruption, and lack of religious values among these groups. Their war is not, as they claim, against Islamist remnants (‘Fuloul’), but rather against civilians and against the sanctity of God’s houses.”

As one example, he pointed out that the militia began its campaign by destroying Dar Al-Mushaf Africa, one of the largest printing houses dedicated to producing copies of the Holy Qur’an. Millions of copies of the sacred text had been printed there. He noted that Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), who portrays himself as a devout figure, did not respect its sanctity. Instead, the facility was shelled, its machinery and buildings burned, and copies of the Qur’an destroyed, under the assumption that it belonged to the “army of the remnants.”

Another example is the damage inflicted on the architecturally unique Al-Nilein Mosque. Designed by a young engineer as his graduation project at the University of Khartoum and later adopted by former President Jaafar Nimeiri, the mosque became a landmark of Omdurman. Despite its significance, it did not escape the violence. Professor Hasabo recounts: “I prayed there last Ramadan and found myself confined to a very small section of the mosque.”

He explained that the mosque suffered extensive destruction and is no longer fully usable for prayer. Its ceilings have collapsed or are on the verge of collapse. While the domes remain structurally strong, the interior sections were heavily damaged due to the proximity to the Military Medical Corps area. As a result, prayers are now conducted in only a limited part of the mosque. He attributed this to deliberate gunfire directed at the structure, describing it as an act of vengeance reflecting deep-seated hostility toward religious sanctities.

He added: “I witnessed the same situation in a mosque in the industrial area of Bahri, where I was forced to pray in a restricted space due to intentional damage to the ceiling caused by gunfire.” He emphasized that these are only a few examples from his own observations, while reports from others indicate widespread targeting of mosques, Quranic schools (khalwas), and even churches.

He further stated: “These people fall under the Quranic verse: ‘And who are more unjust than those who prevent the name of Allah from being mentioned in His mosques and strive toward their destruction?’ In my view, they are among the most unjust, as this verse applies to them in two ways: first, by preventing the call to prayer and worship in areas under their control, as testified by residents of Khartoum and Al-Jazira; and second, by deliberately destroying places of worship, as widely witnessed.”

He concluded by saying that the downfall of these groups “is only a matter of time,” citing the verse: “And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most people do not know.”

It is worth noting that many mosques and places of worship were not only damaged but also repurposed as military positions and storage facilities for weapons and looted goods, alongside practices that violate the sanctity of such spaces within residential neighborhoods. Among the affected mosques are the Historic Bahri Mosque in Khartoum North, Sayyida Sanhouri Mosque, the University Mosque, and Al-Shaheed Mosque, in addition to several others across Khartoum.

Quranic schools (khalwas) suffered even more severe damage than mosques. In the states of Khartoum, Al-Jazira, and Kordofan, students memorizing the Qur’an were displaced, some forcibly recruited into militia ranks, while educational supplies and food provisions were looted, and the schools themselves were occupied and used as military camps.

However, following the liberation of Khartoum last year, the state government—supported by community efforts and local residents—has undertaken significant reconstruction and rehabilitation initiatives. Gradually, mosques have been restored, and the sounds of Taraweeh prayers, takbeer (proclaiming “Allahu Akbar”), and tahleel (recitation of “La ilaha illa Allah”) have returned, with Eid prayers held this year in several rehabilitated mosques.

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