ICC Note:
Meriam Yahia Ibrahim, a 27-year-old mother of two and wife to an American citizen, was sentenced to 100 lashes and death by a Public Order Court in Khartoum, Sudan. Implemented in 1991 by the sitting al-Bashir regime, Sudan’s Public Order Code is largely te brainchild of famed famed Islamist, Hassan al-Turabi. Inspired by Sharia law, the code forbids interfaith marriages wherein the man is not a Muslim and criminalizes leaving Islam. Today, ICC will join 39 other organizations at the White House to call on the Obama Administration to take decisive action in pressuring Sudan into acquitting Meriam of all charges and ensuring her and her family safety when she is released.
06/12/2014 Sudan (Huffington Post) – It’s a mother’s nightmare.
Forcibly separated from her husband and currently caring for her two tiny children in a Sudanese prison, Meriam Ibrahim awaits 100 lashes and death by hanging.
Condemned to Death for Her Beliefs
Sentenced to death in Sudan for her Christian faith, Meriam recently gave birth to a daughter while chained in prison. Her daughter, Maya, was born on Tuesday, May 27, and joins her 20-month-old brother, Martin, both confined in prison along with their mother.
Meriam was eight months pregnant when she was forced to appear before a court on charges of “apostasy” and “adultery.” When she refused to renounce her faith she was sentenced to death by hanging — and to 100 lashes for her marriage to a Christian man.
Imprisoned with Her Children
The date of Meriam’s execution has not yet been announced. Sudan’s Criminal Code maintains that she must be kept alive to nurse her child for two years prior to her execution.
Reports have circulated of her imminent release, but the Sudanese government has retracted the claim, stating that her release is contingent upon the court accepting an appeal request made by her defense team.
What Will It Take to Free Meriam Ibrahim?
The fact that Sudanese authorities originally announced Meriam’s release as a result of international pressure prompts an unsettling question: What will it take to free Meriam Ibrahim? One thing is certain: It is vital to pressure the Sudanese government at this crucial juncture.
Here are five actions that anyone can take right now to help work for the release of Meriam Ibrahim.
