KUAJOK – A local court in Twic County of Warrap State has sentenced a 25-year-old woman identified only as Mary to six months in prison following a domestic dispute linked to her involvement with the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church.
The ruling was issued by the county’s Paramount Chiefs Court in Turalei Payam after hearing complaints filed by the woman’s husband, who accused her of repeatedly defying his demands to stop attending the church and allegedly donating household property to fellow worshippers.
Speaking to local radio station Mayardit FM, court representative Mayom Riing said the case had escalated after several attempts by community leaders and relatives to mediate between the couple failed.
According to Riing, the woman allegedly sold or gave away household belongings as offerings to members of the church, a move that reportedly angered her husband and triggered the legal dispute.
“The local county Paramount Chiefs Court decided to sentence the woman to six months in prison to allow her to reconsider her position regarding the SDA doctrines,” Riing said.
He added that the court involved both families in an effort to resolve the disagreement peacefully, but the woman reportedly refused to comply with recommendations made by elders and relatives.
“The chiefs tried all possible means, including calling both families for dialogue, but the woman resisted the guidance that was given. That is why the court passed the verdict,” he explained.
Riing further stated that the court believed the sentence would help restore harmony within the family and encourage respect for local cultural expectations regarding marriage and household responsibilities.
The incident has once again highlighted long-standing tensions between some communities in Warrap State and members of the SDA Church. In several parts of the state, disagreements have previously emerged over the church’s doctrines and worship practices, which some residents consider incompatible with traditional customs.
In earlier incidents, some SDA members were reportedly attacked while praying at disputed church sites in Twic County. Similar tensions were also reported in Gogrial East County, where former lawmaker Salva Mathok was previously accused of ordering the burning of an SDA church during a conflict linked to disagreements over the church’s teachings.
The latest case is likely to spark debate among rights advocates and religious leaders over freedom of worship, women’s rights, and the role of customary courts in handling family disputes in South Sudan.
