When did the Sudanese government first turn towards a radical form of Islam?
BD: It was there from the early centuries. Islam was there. [British] General Gordon was there and was killed by the Mahdi [in the late nineteenth century]. The Arabs, when you follow the history of the country, are not the indigenous people of this land. They came from Saudi Arabia. They captured Khartoum and forced the Dinkas southward. The word Sudan actually means black. Was there relative religious freedom under the British? BD: The British were Christians. And they were the authority. There was freedom of religion. Sharia [Islamic] law was not in the constitution. But when we got our independence, then the Arabs said Sharia had to be introduced and put it in the constitution. They made it a Muslim state. They say they will never change that. After they added Sharia law to our constitution, they made Sunday a working day. Friday is the day of rest. All the schools in Sudan hold their examinations on Sunday. If you refuse to take it, then you will be expelled from the school. This
