Sudan’s Court of Appeal Refuses to Drop Case against Bashir

In this Sept. 15, 2020 file photo, Sudan's ousted President Omar al-Bashir sits at the defendant's cage during his trial a courthouse in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020. (AP)
In this Sept. 15, 2020 file photo, Sudan's ousted President Omar al-Bashir sits at the defendant's cage during his trial a courthouse in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020. (AP)
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Sudan’s Court of Appeal Refuses to Drop Case against Bashir

In this Sept. 15, 2020 file photo, Sudan's ousted President Omar al-Bashir sits at the defendant's cage during his trial a courthouse in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020. (AP)
In this Sept. 15, 2020 file photo, Sudan's ousted President Omar al-Bashir sits at the defendant's cage during his trial a courthouse in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020. (AP)

Sudan’s Court of Appeal rejected the appeal filed by the advocates of ousted President Omar al-Bashir and his partners over their involvement in the June 30, 1989 coup.

The court upheld the verdict against them, setting a new date to continue the trial, which was suspended on Jan. 4.

Bashir and 27 of his Islamist partners, who organized the 1989 military coup against the democratically elected government of prime minister Sadek al-Mahdi, could face the death penalty if convicted.

His partners include former vice presidents Ali Osman Taha and Bakri Hassan Saleh, as well as former ministers and governors.

In a press release obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, official spokesperson of the prosecution lawyer Moaz Hadra said the Khartoum Court of Appeal rejected the appeal submitted by the defense.

The defense had appealed the ruling citing the statute of limitations.

According to presiding Judge Essam al-Din Mohammad Ibrahim the act committed by Bashir and his partners is a continuous crime running from the 1989 coup until the overthrow of the regime on April 11, 2019.



Death Toll in Damascus Church Attack Rises to 25

People and rescuers inspect the damage at the site of a reported suicide attack at the Saint Elias church in Damascus' Dweila area on June 22, 2025. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP)
People and rescuers inspect the damage at the site of a reported suicide attack at the Saint Elias church in Damascus' Dweila area on June 22, 2025. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP)
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Death Toll in Damascus Church Attack Rises to 25

People and rescuers inspect the damage at the site of a reported suicide attack at the Saint Elias church in Damascus' Dweila area on June 22, 2025. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP)
People and rescuers inspect the damage at the site of a reported suicide attack at the Saint Elias church in Damascus' Dweila area on June 22, 2025. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP)

The death toll from a suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Damascus on Sunday has risen to 25, Syria's state news agency SANA reported on Monday citing the country's health ministry.

It was the first suicide bombing in Damascus since Bashar al-Assad was toppled by opposition factions in December.

On Sunday, a suicide bomber in Syria opened fire then detonated an explosive vest inside a Greek Orthodox church filled with people praying, killing and wounding many.

The attack took place in Dweila on the outskirts of Damascus inside the Mar Elias Church, according to state media SANA.

A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up.