Shariah law to be tightened if Sudan splits, says president

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashi says the north of Sudan will reinforce its Islamic laws if the south secedes because of next month’s referendum, reported BBC News on Monday.

"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. "Shariah and Islam will be the main source for the constitution, Islam the official religion and Arabic the official language.”

Correspondents say the president’s comments are likely to alarm thousands of non-Muslim southerners living in the north as they are currently protected from some of the stronger aspects of Shariah.

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.

You can read the full report here.