ICC Note:
Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) has called for Meriam Yahia Ibrahim’s release on the Senate floor. Earlier today, Meriam was charged with falsifying documents and providing false information following a lengthy interrogation by Khartoum law enforcement personnel. The charges follow Meriam and family’s attempt to leave Sudan the morning after after her court-ordered release and acquittal Monday. Meriam’s husband, Daniel Wani, who holds dual United States and South Sudanese citizenship, has also been detained on charges of acting as an accessory to the fact. Meriam, Daniel and their two children, Martin and Maya, are reportedly being held at the al-Shareed police station in Khartoum. Learn everything you need to know regarding Meriam’s case here. The Office of the Senator’s press release has been re-posted below in-full:
06/25/2014 Washington, D.C. (Senator Roy Blunt) – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) spoke on the U.S. Senate floor today to urge the U.S. to protect the rights of religious minorities throughout the world. Blunt specifically called for the release of Meriam Ibrahim and Pastor Saeed Abedini, who are both jailed for their religious beliefs.
In an effort to secure Ibrahim’s release, Blunt worked with U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (N.H.) to send a letter on May 16, 2014, urging Secretary of the U.S. Department of State John Kerry to intervene on Ibrahim’s behalf. Blunt and Ayotte also sent a follow-up letter to Kerry and Jeh Johnson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), on May 21, 2014.
Last year, Blunt joined 11 of his colleagues in sending a letter to then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging her to use all resources available to secure Pastor Abedini’s release. The letter also condemned the Iranian government for Pastor Abedini’s arbitrary persecution. Blunt also joined his colleagues in sending a follow-up letter to Kerry on February 12, 2013.
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Click here to watch Senator Blunt’s remarks.
