Morning Star News, which first broke the story of Sudanese mother Meriam Ibrahim’s death sentence following accusations of apostasy, reports on her release…
Meriam Yahia Ibrahim was released from prison in Sudan today, less than two months after Morning Star News broke the story of false charges of apostasy against her that set off a firestorm of international protests.
Ibrahim, who gave birth to her second child in prison on 27th May, had received a sentence of death by hanging for allegedly leaving Islam after a Muslim claiming to be a relative accused her of marrying a Christian man – the crime of “adultery” under Islamic law for which she was also sentenced to 100 lashes.
Sudan’s state news agency reported that the country’s Court of Cassation canceled the death sentence against the 27-year-old Christian, who has been in prison with her toddler son since February, after defense lawyers presented their case. Witnesses for the defense had been prohibited from testifying during the trial. |
One of her attorneys, whose name is withheld for security reasons, confirmed that she was released at 2 pm on Monday.
“The court has served us with a letter stating that she is now free of charges,” he told Morning Star News. “Thank you for your work on the case. We knew we were going to win the case.”
Sudan’s state news agency reported that the country’s Court of Cassation canceled the death sentence against the 27-year-old Christian, who has been in prison with her toddler son since February, after defense lawyers presented their case. Witnesses for the defense had been prohibited from testifying during the trial.
Human rights advocates said Sudan must ensure protection for Ibrahim and her family, as Islamists have clamored for her death throughout the trial. She will likely seek asylum in another country on grounds of religious persecution. Her husband, South Sudanese national Daniel Wani, has US citizenship.
Ibrahim has maintained that her Sudanese father was Muslim but disappeared when she was six, and that she was raised a Christian by her Ethiopian Orthodox mother. Having never been a Muslim, she could not be guilty of apostasy, she testified.
A woman claiming to be Ibrahim’s mother and a man who claimed to be her brother attended court hearings, according to Middle East Concern (MEC).
“However, Meriam did not recognise either of them, and they contradicted each other concerning Meriam’s father and could not answer simple questions relating to Meriam’s upbringing, leaving their claims and statements open to question,” according to MEC.
International media, Western embassies and human rights groups urged her release when Ibrahim’s death sentence was confirmed after she refused to recant her faith on 15th May. Among those advocating for her release was Christian Solidarity Worldwide, whose chief executive, Mervyn Thomas, released a statement today asserting that Sudan must now protect her from Islamist vigilantes.
“We are delighted to hear that Mrs. Ibrahim and her children have been released into the care of her husband and that the unjust, inhumane and unwarranted sentences have been annulled,” Thomas said. “However, we remain appalled by the threats and hate speech that has been aired seemingly unhindered against Mrs. Ibrahim and her lawyers and urge the international community to hold the Sudanese authorities to account for her safety and that of her lawyers.”
Another woman raised as a Christian and falsely accused of apostasy in Sudan has been released after she recanted when threatened with the death sentence last month, sources told Morning Star News. Authorities had detained Faiza Abdalla, 37, in the town of El Gadarif on Sudan’s eastern border with Ethiopia, on 2nd April as she was trying to obtain her identification number at an official building.
Immigration/Citizenship police questioned her about her religion and arrested her on suspicion of leaving Islam. She is the mother of eight children.
