Justice Minister reinforces secular nature of South Sudan
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September 5, 2011 (JUBA)- The Government South Sudan (GoSS) on Monday
reiterated its commitment to being a secular state and called for
unity among different religious groups.
JPEG - 56.5 kb
Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development, John Luk Jok
(Sudan Vote)
Minister of justice, John Luk Jok told members of the religious groups
on Monday that GoSS and its partners were working to make the
Transitional Constitution of South Sudan “available to the general
public”.
Jok, addressing employees of the ministry of justice celebrating his
appointment and return to the ministry, said the Transitional
Constitution of South Sudan separated religion from politics.
“Article 8 (1) of the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan states
clearly that religion and state shall be separate. This has been
elaborated in paragraph two of the same article eight that all
religion shall be treated equally and religion or religious beliefs
shall be used for divisive purposes. I am saying this from the bottom
of my heart; the government has this stand because it acknowledges the
position and importance of religions in contributing to the
development of the country," explained Jok.
He added that article 23 of the constitution allows for right to
worship or assemble in connection with any religion or belief and
establish and maintain places of worship and that the government will
extend any assistance to religions that request it, without prejudice.
He urged Christians and Muslims in the new country to coexist
peacefully and to forward their concerns to the relevant institutions
of the government for immediate attention, noting that his government
was ready to work with them to ensure better living standards for the
people.
Jok also stressed that the judicial system will establish courts run
by judges from different religious backgrounds including Muslims, but
that “all criminal and civil cases will be handled by the ordinary
court and it will have no mandate to institute Islamic or any other
religious law."
He explained that the Law Review Commission would be formed to help
advise on legal matters which require review by the government.
(ST)
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