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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:
PhaedraIsMyName · 01/06/2014 18:35

It seems talk of her release was premature.

Husband 'not told' of Sudan release www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27655842

Pleasecanisleepnow · 01/06/2014 18:49

Signed and emailed.

FrancesNiadova · 02/06/2014 11:41

It looks like the Sudanese Government has changed its mind on the release of Meriam. Please keep signing the Amnesty petition & sending the email until she's released. Thanks.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 02/06/2014 12:27

Also I wonder if anyone else would like to join me in posting a question in support of Meriam on the thread for the live web-chat with foreign secretary William Haigue, which will be taking place here on Mumsnet from 3pm. Questions can be posted before-hand too!
Web-chat is primarily about sexual violence during conflict/war.

FrancesNiadova · 02/06/2014 12:33

What about something like,
Is it true that the Sudanese Government has reneged on its decision to free Meriam Ibrahim. If yes, what is the British Government actively doing about it, now?

yellowdinosauragain · 02/06/2014 12:35

Excellent question Frances

JugglingFromHereToThere · 02/06/2014 13:04

Great question Frances - wonder if you could re-post it on the William Hague web-chat thread? It's top billing ATM on DOTD Smile - and needing more questions tbh

Spero · 02/06/2014 13:05

Yes, very good question. I think it needs an answer. If we are prepared to go to war over oil dressed up as respect for human rights, then I would like to know what the government's response is to this.

FrancesNiadova · 02/06/2014 13:12

Posted, thanks for the encouragement!

JugglingFromHereToThere · 02/06/2014 13:21

Thanks Frances Thanks
I'm hopeful of an answer to such a good question, and even more hopeful that together we could make a difference for Meriam

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