182 thE sudan handbookset for itself the task of advocating what it regarded as a genuine commit-
ment to Islam and the realization of a social reform on religious grounds- an Islamic transformation of society. In strategic terms this has justified
a policy of attaining political power – through whatever means – in order
to utilize the authority of the state in its endeavour of Islamic transforma-
tion. Thus after the success of its coup and consolidation of its power, the
Islamist regime embarked on a process geared towards implementation
of its Islamic transformation of society.
In 1991, the regime issued a new penal code based on sharia, Criminal
Act (CA), 1991. By itself the Criminal Act was not a radical move since
sharia-based legislation had already been in place since its enactment
by president Nimeiri in 1983. Rather, since the issue of the sharia was
the basis of heated dispute throughout the parliamentary period, its
enforcement by the new regime was meant to give an indication of its
orientation. Other legal measures in this regard included the revision
of civil transactions to incorporate usury-free Islamic banking systems,
and the introduction of mandatory zakat (alms-in-tax) in 1990. In 1996,
the Khartoum state introduced a public order law which was said to be
inspired by Islam, with a special police force and a special court setup
to enforce it.
These legal procedures were accompanied by certain policy measures
apparently carried out with the aim of enhancing religious commit-
ment, or ensuring that religious morality was upheld. Examples of these
measures included the extensive building of mosques and prayer places in
all government buildings, educational institutions, and any other building
used by the public; the expansion of religious educational institutions
(such as Quran university); and the intensification of media programmes
geared towards religious indoctrination. There were also some ‘direc-
tives’ (officially or unofficially enforced) regarding women’s modesty and
dress code, so that although in legal terms there was no official policy of
hijab it gradually became the official norm that women should be dressed
in particular ways (head covered, long, loose clothing, etc).
In 1993, the regime had established the Ministry of Social Planning
The Sudan Handbook, edited by John Ryle, Justin Willis, Suliman Baldo and Jok Madut Jok. © 2011 Rift Valley Institute and contributors which was entrusted with overseeing the ambitious vision of Islamic
(www.riftvalley.net).