The secession of mostly non-Muslim South Sudan a year ago sparked predictions that Sudan would start implementing Islamic law more strictly, Reuters reported.
In a speech to leaders of the mystical Islamic Sufi tradition in Khartoum, Bashir suggested Sudan’s new, post-secession constitution could help guide the region’s political transformation.
“We want to present a constitution that serves as a template to those around us. And our template is clear, a 100 percent Islamic constitution, without communism or secularism or Western (influences),” said Bashir.
“And we tell non-Muslims, nothing will preserve your rights except for Islamic sharia because it is just,” he said.
Bashir said a committee made up of “all parties, religious sects and Sufis” would be set up to draft a constitution.
However, he did not give a date for the new constitution.
Following the 1989 coup that brought Bashir to power, Sudan introduced laws that took sharia as their main source.
Already, floggings are a common punishment in Sudan for crimes like drinking alcohol and adultery.
Source: The News Tribe