A Sudan woman, pregnant with her second child, was sentenced to death and 100 lashes for marrying a Christian man and refusing to renounce her faith. Meriam Yahia Ibrahim, gave birth last Tuesday, to a baby girl – “Maya”, in Khartoum prison hospital wing.
Mrs Ibrahim was arrested in 2013 by Sudanese authorities on the ground of adultery since she was cohabitating with a Christian man, whom she married in 2012. One year later, an additional charge was brought against her for the crime of apostasy under the Islamic Sharia Law that has been in force in Sudan since 1983 and makes conversions of faith punishable by death.
The young mother who was born to a Christian mother and a Muslim Father, was sentenced to hang after she refused to “return” to the Muslim religion. Indeed, under Sudan’s interpretation of Sharia, a Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man and any such relationship is regarded as adulterous. The UN experts insisted on the need to repeal all discriminatory laws adding:
But, this death sentence may not be final, according to the minister Ahmed Bilel. Indeed, Sudanese authorities are allowing Mrs Ibrahim two years to nurse her daughter before they will carry out the death sentence. Her lawyer lodged an appeal last week, according to CSW.
Meanwhile, Sudan is still considered as one of the world’s 1 in 10 countries that still outlaw apostasy, and one of the 1 in 5 countries that still outlaw blasphemy, according to the Pew Research Center.
QUOTES:
“I am truly appalled that a Sudanese court has sentenced Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag to death for apostasy.” Britain’s Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds.
“It is unwise and dangerous to politicise the issue at hand to spur religious tension between the two peaceful faiths with similar foundations.” Sudan embassy in the US.
“This outrageous conviction must be overturned and Ms Ibrahim must be immediately released,” UN experts.
“The sentencing of Meriam Yahya Ibrahim Ishag is an abhorrent violation of fundamental freedoms and universal human rights,” Shaheen said. “No man or woman anywhere should be treated as a criminal much less sentenced to hanging for exercising the basic right of religious choice.” US Senators Kelly Ayotte and Jeanne Shaheen
About the Author
