Sharia (and what it means here).

People of the Book from Wikipedia

I only put this in as it relates to the conflict in Sudan. The Wikipedia article will give you the basics and you can see the Koran has mixed feelings about Non Moslems with a special status. What does this mean? The link covers what the Moslems call People of the Book. or Al ha Kitab. This covers Jews and Christians.

Non People of the Book are easy. They are maltreated or greeted with "convert or die."

Many Sudanese Southerners were converted to Christianity. So it meant they were better off than being pagans, but that did not mean all of their problems were solved. Being Christian does not make you equal to someone who believes in Sharia. Well, don't take my word for it...