The South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church has urged the Government of South Sudan to intervene for the release of two church leaders on trial in Sudan for espionage.

The trial of the two pastors is scheduled to continue on Tuesday in Khartoum. If convicted, the two pastors could face the death penalty. The Church has denied the charges of espionage and demanded the release of the pastors.

In a press release seen by Radio Tamazuj the Presbyterian church leaders appealed to the government of South Sudan to take responsibility for the two pastors because they are citizens of South Sudan.

“We appeal to the Government of South Sudan to take this case upon itself as a responsibility and protect its citizens,” read the press release.

The Church also urged the Sudanese government to release the two church leaders jailed in Khartoum. The Church strongly refuted the charges against the two pastors describing them as totally false.

“We strongly refute the charges labeled against these two pastors and demand for their immediate release,” Church leaders said in their press release.

The two church leaders were arrested in Khartoum nearly seven months ago. Rev. Yat Michael went to Khartoum with his ailing son seeking medical treatment on 12 December 2014.

On 14 December 14 2014 he was arrested by Sudan’s National Intelligence Security Services (NISS) after preaching in Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church.

Later, Pastor Peter Yein was coming from a prayer meeting in Khartoum when he received a phone call from NISS ordering to come home if he wants his family not to be arrested.

Photo: Yat Michael Ruot, a Presbyterian pastor from South Sudan, was arrested after preaching in Sudan in December.