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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Baby born in prison, mother sentenced to death

85 replies

gelati3 · 28/05/2014 00:54

I have posted about the case of Meriam but due to lack of response and on advice of a Mumsnetter, have changed heading. Thank you to all those who replied to my initial response and took action.

The latest update on the CSW website is-

"Imprisoned Sudanese Christian Meriam Yahia Ibrahim has given birth to a baby girl five days early.

According to local sources, Mrs Ibrahim’s husband Daniel Wani has yet to be granted permission to see his wife and newborn daughter, who are currently incarcerated in Omdurman Federal Women's Prison along with his 20 month-old son Martin, but has been informed that both mother and baby are well.

On 22 May, Meriam Yahia Ibrahim’s lawyers lodged an appeal against the Public Order Court’s decision on 11 May to sentence Mrs Ibrahim to death for apostasy and 100 lashes for adultery.

Mrs Ibrahim was charged and sentenced for adultery and apostasy under articles 146 and 126 of Sudan’s Penal Code respectively. The Public Order Court in El Haj Yousif Khartoum, Sudan, chaired by Judge Abbas Khalifa, confirmed the sentence on 15 May, after Mrs Ibrahim refused to renounce her faith.

Mrs Ibrahim was born in western Sudan to a Sudanese Muslim father and an Ethiopian Orthodox mother. Her father left the family when she was six years old and she was subsequently brought up as a Christian by her mother. The case against Mrs Ibrahim began after Sudanese authorities were made aware of her marriage to Daniel Wani, a Christian with dual American and Sudanese citizenship. Morning Star news reported that Mrs Ibrahim testified before the court on 4 March that she is a life-long Christian, producing her marriage certificate, where she is classified as Christian, as evidence. Three potential witnesses from western Sudan who went to court to testify of Mrs Ibrahim’s lifelong adherence to Christianity were prevented from giving evidence.

CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas says “We are pleased to hear that Mrs Ibrahim and her baby are reportedly in good health; however, we urge the authorities to ensure that Mrs Ibrahim’s husband and lawyers are granted access to see them, and that they are guaranteed medical attention. CSW continues to call upon the Sudanese authorities to annul the inhumane and unwarranted sentence given to Meriam Ibrahim, and to release her and her young children immediately. The charges against her are a violation of her right to freedom of religion or belief, guaranteed under Sudan’s interim constitution and in the covenants to which Sudan is party.”

Can you even begin to imagine that it would be like to be in that situation? Knowing that once your baby is 2 years old, you will be executed and you won't be there for her and your older son? Please, please help. It will take only a couple of minutes to e-mail the Sudanese Embassy via CSW. Alternatively, you can take action through Amnesty International or sign the petition on the Change.org website.

OP posts:
notfromstepford · 28/05/2014 11:14

Singed the Change and the Amnesty petitions.
It's just horrific.

Thumbwitch · 28/05/2014 11:16

What makes it even more sickening is that it's one of her own relatives who reported her. What kind of sick bastard reports their own family, knowing what the likely outcome is? Angry :(

Pumpkinpositive · 28/05/2014 11:19

Gelati3, have you asked Mumsnet HQ to post a link to the petition or news article on the home page? Smile

CarCiKoTab · 28/05/2014 11:52

How can they accuse her of Apostasy when as far as what I have read states she has always been Christian? And has married a Christian? You can only be had up for Apostasy if you have rebelled against the religion of Islam which to me doesn't state she has?

CarCiKoTab · 28/05/2014 11:53

Unless I haven't read it correctly.

yellowdinosauragain · 28/05/2014 11:55

Her dad was a Muslim carkikotab

Thumbwitch · 28/05/2014 11:55

No you've read it correctly - her father was Muslim but he left when she was small and her Orthodox mother brought her up as a Christian. People who were prepared to testify that she had always been Christian weren't allowed to testify at her trial.

Gen35 · 28/05/2014 11:58

Dreadful - signed. I saw the case of the pregnant lady stoned to death by her own family in Pakistan yesterday too. We're so lucky not to have to live there.

CarCiKoTab · 28/05/2014 12:25

So Thumbwitch in any sense then it's an unfair trial? I probably sound totally dumb but I want to gather enough facts before I slam them with the book to say the least.

Thumbwitch · 28/05/2014 12:35

You know, I know I read that - and I was going to C&P it here but now I can't find where I read it! It was on either the Amnesty link, or one of the Change.org pages, not sure which, sorry! But I definitely did read that 3 witnesses who turned up were not allowed to testify to her lifelong Christianity.

yellowdinosauragain · 28/05/2014 12:51

I read that too Thumbwitch. I think it was on the petition?

yellowdinosauragain · 28/05/2014 12:55

Except I can't find it now either! Don't think both of us have made it up in our own heads though?

prh47bridge · 28/05/2014 13:06

which to me doesn't state she has

Because her father was Muslim the court took the view that she is also automatically Muslim regardless of the fact she was brought up as a Christian. The court has also ruled that her husband will not be allowed to raise their children as he is not Muslim. Despite three of the four grandparents being Christian the authorities say the children cannot be raised as Christians.

Some have suggested that this whole case is a ploy by the Sudanese regime to appear as defenders of Islam in an attempt to distract people from their corruption.

CarCiKoTab · 28/05/2014 13:20

If anyone is interested in a read of Islamic Law Sounds to me as if what they are doing is completely against Islamic Law.

Thumbwitch · 28/05/2014 13:26

Oo that's weird, yellow! Shock

liketohelp · 28/05/2014 14:05

Email sent to William Hague.

Petition signed earlier.

KellyElly · 28/05/2014 15:02

Signed.

Spero · 28/05/2014 15:09

Signed. And this is why I am an atheist. Because if there really was a God, he'd send another flood and drown us all. If no one does anything to stop this, then as a species I don't think we deserve to continue.

icanmakeyouicecream · 28/05/2014 15:15

Signed.

MrsStatham · 28/05/2014 16:25

Signed and shared.

QueenYnci · 28/05/2014 16:25

Signed.

GreenishMe · 28/05/2014 16:57

Is the sentence now set in stone or can she still be released from gaol if she capitulates?

....sent an email.

Spero · 28/05/2014 20:15

I think there is an appeal but I am not sure what will happen. Not sure if Sudan will care about international condemnation.

missuswife · 28/05/2014 20:23

Signed and shared.

gelati3 · 28/05/2014 23:57

Thank you everyone for reading and taking action. Pumpkinpositive- good idea, I have e-mailed Mumsnet HQ. Thank you also for advice to e-mail William Hague.

Please please, let's do what we can to make others aware and encourage them to help.

How could anyone with an ounce of compassion sentence what seems to be a loving mother of two young children to death? Not only are they punishing the mother but also the children and their father.

OP posts:
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