Sudan’s Islamic scholars say government not to blame for rising prices ARTICLECOMMENTS (1) EmailPrintSave
August 15, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The board of Islamic scholars cleared the Sudanese government from any blame in the wave of the rising cost of living and soaring prices of basic goods. A man selling eggs waits for customers at the market in Khartoum, Sudan May 12, 2011 (Reuters) The highest religious authority said that individuals along with the society bears equal responsibility for the situation. The remarks came during a meeting of the board’s delegation led by secretary general Mohammed Osman Saleh with the parliament speaker Ahmed Ibrahim al-Tahir on Monday. South Sudan’s breakaway last month denied the North from around 75% of the country’s oil production of 500,000 barrels a day. Oil exports accounted for most of the revenue and hard currency source in pre-separation Sudan. Officials in Khartoum have warned for several months about the economic impact of the South’s secession and have adopted tough austerity measures earlier this year which included reducing subsidies on sugar and petroleum products. The Islamic clerics said that merchants should repent, seek forgiveness and work in accordance with the principles of Islamic law adding that nothing justifies the high prices. Saleh accused merchants of boosting prices ten-fold. With many food items imported and fertilizers also needed from abroad to cultivate farm land, ordinary Sudanese citizens are feeling the price increases. Based on official figures, annual inflation actually eased to 15 percent in June from 16.8 percent in May, but many ordinary Sudanese say they are not feeling any benefit. (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
