Mariam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag

Mariam [Meriam] Yahia Ibrahim Ishag or Maryam Yaḥyā Ibrahīm Isḥaq (مريم يحيى إبراهيم إسحق, born 3 November 1987 in Al Qadarif state, Sudan)[1] is a Sudanese woman first sentenced to death because of her Christian faith and then released. Meriam Ibrahim was arrested during her second pregnancy and gave birth to a girl in prison on 27 May 2014.[2] Mariam Ibrahim's case is part of a wider problem of persecution of Christians in Sudan.[3]

Meriam Ibrahim was born to a Muslim father, who left her Ethiopian Orthodox mother to raise her from early childhood. She was raised in her mother's faith and married a Christian man; the marriage certificate has been published.[4] Meriam Ibrahim was reportedly turned in to the authorities by one of her relatives, who claimed Mariam was committing adultery by marrying Daniel Wani, a Christian.[5] She was sentenced to death on 15 May 2014, for allegedly committing apostasy from Islam, meaning that she was accused of changing religion from Islam to a different (or no) religion. Although Meriam Ibrahim said she has always been a Christian, the prosecution claimed she should have followed the faith of her absent father, and demanded, with the support of the judge, that she abandon her Christian faith, and assent to belief in her father's faith, Islam.

The judge told me that I needed to convert to Islam, and so these warnings made me anticipate I would be sentenced to death. (Meriam Ibrahim) [6]

She was given three days to convert, but refused, arguing that she had been a Christian all her life, and could not rescind or alter her genuine personal faith at the request of a court. Her husband, Daniel Wani, appealed the sentence on both of their behalfs.[7] On 24 June 2014 Meriam Ibrahim was released on the order of a Sudanese appeal court. The following day, as she and her family were to board a plane to the United States, she and her family were arrested and taken from the airport to Khartoum for questioning following a tip-off to the police by her half brother.[8][9] The US Ambassador was summoned in protest at the granting of an exit visa, described by the Sudanese Foreign Ministry as 'a criminal violation'.[10]

Meriam Ibrahim was freed again on 26 June 2014 and took refuge in the United States embassy with her family.[11] After extensive negotiations[12] to enable her to leave Sudan, Meriam Ibrahim arrived in Rome on 24 July 2014 on an Italian government plane.[13]

Background

Because Islamic law does not allow marriages between Muslim women and non-Muslim men, her marriage to a Christian man was considered void by the court, based on its belief that she should not have been raised as a Christian, or chosen that faith. Therefore, the court argued that, although a lifelong Christian, she should notionally be treated as a Muslim, and that the marriage to the Christian man was not valid. She was therefore also sentenced to receive 100 lashes for adultery, in spite of the sexual relations having been only with her husband, with the flogging to be administered some time in advance of being hanged. Moreover, her 20-month-old son was also imprisoned, and was initially denied all contact with his father, who would never have been permitted to raise him.[5] Three of his four grandparents – both his paternal grandparents, and his maternal grandmother – were Christian from birth, as were his parents – but the authorities have stated that as the absentee maternal grandfather that he never met was a Muslim, he therefore could not legally be raised by his Christian father.

In response, Meriam Ibrahim said that she has always been a Christian and never committed apostasy.[14][15][16] Her half brother, Al Samani Al Hadi Mohamed Abdullah, admitted he had instigated the charges against her and maintained she should be executed.[17][18] Meriam Ibrahim's husband and her lawyers have alleged that her half brother and half sister had turned her in because they wanted to take over Meriam's successful businesses, which included a hair salon, agricultural land and a general convenience store in a shopping mall.[19][20]

Prison and family conditions

Daniel Wani's photograph of his daughter

Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag was held in Omdurman Federal Women's Prison with Martin Wani, her 20-month-old son. Visitors were originally not allowed; when her husband finally saw Meriam Ibrahim, she was shackled and had swollen legs.[21] Muslim scholars visited her daily reciting the Koran and trying to pressure her to convert. [22]

Vital medical treatment was refused, and Meriam Ibrahim was denied transfer to a hospital even though she was 8 months into a difficult pregnancy.[23] Even during childbirth, her legs were kept shackled to the floor [24][25] and there are fears the baby girl may be permanently disabled due to this.[26] The shackles were removed after the birth.[27]

Mohamed Jar Elnabi, a lawyer representing Meriam Ibrahim, said police and the judge prevented her husband, Wani, going into the court. Elnabi said Wani is wheelchair-bound due to muscular dystrophy [28] and "totally depends on her for all details of his life, he cannot live without her". Speaking about the couple's son Martin Wani, Elnabi said, "The couple's son is having a difficult time in prison. He is very affected from being trapped inside a prison from such a young age, he is always getting sick due to lack of hygiene and bugs."[29] Reports that Meriam Ibrahim may be freed[30][31] were subsequently officially denied.[32] However, on 24 June 2014, Meriam Ibrahim was released on the order of a Sudanese appeal court. The following day, as she and her family were to board a plane to the United States, she and her family were arrested and taken from the airport to Khartoum for questioning.[9] Authorities stated that she was not under arrest, but that the police wished to question her about the validity of a travel document provided to her by South Sudan.[1] Daniel Wani claims in a report from Christian Today the family and supporters were violently handled, the lawyers were beaten and thrown out of the airport.[33] Following their release the family spent a month in the U.S. embassy in Khartoum.

Defense lawyers

Meriam was represented by five lawyers: Elshareef Ali Mohammed, Mohamed Elnbi, Mohamed Mustaf, Osman Mobark, Thaiut Alzaber.the case has also taken to the African Commission on people's Human rights

Reactions

“ The fact that a woman has been sentenced to death for her religious choice, and to flogging for being married to a man of an allegedly different religion is appalling and abhorrent. Adultery and apostasy are acts which should not be considered crimes at all. It is [a] flagrant breach of international human rights law. ”
“ The way she is being treated is barbaric and has no place in today's world. ”
“ If there is no European reaction we cannot feel worthy to call ourselves "Europe" ”
— Matteo Renzi, 1 July 2014[36]

The United Kingdom government described the sentence as "barbaric" and a UK minister was "truly appalled", noting that Sudan breached international human rights obligations. The United States government was "deeply disturbed" and also called on Sudan to meet its obligations under international human rights law. A joint statement from embassies of Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United States before sentencing also expressed "deep concern", urging "justice and compassion". Daniel Wani, Mariam's husband, has expressed disappointment at a lack of U. S. resoluteness, at the consulate level, "Considering I am an American citizen, I am disappointed with the American Embassy's position from the beginning of the whole case."[37] The lengthy public silence of both President Obama and Secretary Kerry on their case drew widespread criticism.[38][39][40] Secretary Kerry broke this silence on 12 June,[41] after bipartisan lobbying.[42]

Christian groups have been campaigning for Meriam Ibrahim but Islamic extremists also lobbied according to prominent newspaper editor Khalid Tigani.[27]

A lawyer for Meriam Ibrahim said the case would, if necessary, have gone to Sudan's highest Constitutional Court. Sudan's 2005 interim constitution officially guarantees freedom of religion.[34][43][44][45]

The Information Minister of Sudan, Ahmed Bilal Osman, appeared to comment on the court case prior to the appeal, when he said: "It's not only Sudan. In Saudi Arabia, in all the Muslim countries, it is not allowed at all for a Muslim to change his religion" [46]

Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a British-based group working for religious freedom, said Ms. Ishag's case is the latest amongst "a series of repressive acts" against religious minorities in Sudan. [47]

World Council of Churches general secretary, Dr Olav Fykse Tveit considers the sentence unjust and reminds president Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese constitution guarantees all citizens the ""right to the freedom of religious creed and worship." [48]

“There are now three innocent people in that cell. The way Meriam has been treated is sickening, and it has appalled the world. This really is the stuff of nightmares." (Amnesty UK’s Individuals at Risk Campaigner, Kathy Voss)

"Religious tolerance is something that the UK should be promoting at every opportunity. We need to ask ourselves whether it is acceptable to be giving taxpayers' money in aid to states which allow treatment such as that handed out to Meriam Ibrahim." (Conservative MP Liam Fox)[49]

International protests are growing; the embassies of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have issued a joint statement expressing "deep concern" about the case, urging Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion.[50] The European Union called for revocation of the “inhuman verdict” and John Kerry urged Sudan to repeal laws banning Muslims from joining other faiths.[27]

Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan wrote, “There is no value in worship performed in the absence of free choice and volition.”[51]

Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director Sarah Jackson said: “Today’s ruling is a small step to redressing the injustice done to Meriam"[52]

The Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, mentioned Ms Ibrahim's case in his speech at the European Parliament.[36] After that, The EU passed a Resolution condemning Sudan over treatment of Meriam Ibrahim.[53]

Wider problems

Some have argued that this case may serve as a distraction against complaints the Sudanese people make about their government. Mohamed Ghilan, an expert in Islamic jurisprudence, claims, "The punishment has little to do with religion and serves as a political distraction. This is a ploy by the Sudanese regime to appear as 'defenders of Islam' to mitigate their corruption".,[54] The Country has been noted by the Corruption Perceptions index as being one of the World's most corrupt.[55] However execution is widely prescribed as an appropriate punishment for women and men leaving Islam in Saudi Arabia and in on-line Islamic websites,[56][57] commonly citing a well attested quotation of Muhammed to Ibn Abbas, “Whoever renounces his religion, kill him.”[58] It has, for example, been a persuasion commonly held by young Muslims in the UK,[59] as well as Meriam's own family.[18]

Departure from Sudan

After Meriam and her family took refuge in the US Embassy, the Italian government offered help to speed up the process of getting U.S. passports, given its good relation with Sudan, and vice-minister for foreign affairs Lapo Pistelli flew to the Sudanese capital to that end.[60] Two weeks later vice-minister Pistelli accompanied the family back to Italy on a government plane which took off from Khartoum, and they were welcomed in Rome by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini.[13]

Pope Francis had expressed “his gratitude and joy” to the Italian Government when he was informed by Renzi of the family's arrival.[61] Later in that day, Meriam and her family met the Pontiff at his residence of Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City for about half an hour, during which she thanked the Catholic Church for their support and prayers, while the Pope thanked her and her family for their "courageous and constant witness of faith".[60]

Current situation

The family is now in New Hampshire in the United States where they plan to live with Meriam Ibrahim's brother in law.[62][63][64][65] Meriam Ibrahim wants to campaign for other victims of religious persecution:

It [her time in prison] wasn't easy, I can't describe it, but there are others who are in worse conditions in Sudan than those I was in. (...) Sadly, this was all under the guise of the law. So instead of protecting people, the law is harming them. (Meriam Ibrahim) [6]
I put my life at risk for the women of Sudan and for Christians live under difficult circumstances, persecuted and treated harshly. There are many Meriams in Sudan and throughout the world. [22]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "La Soudanaise Meriam Ishag toujours interrogée par la police", Agence France Presse, 25 June 2014
  2. ↑ Sudanese woman facing death for apostasy gives birth, BBC, 27 May 2014
  3. ↑ Christians face 'growing harassment' in post-breakup Sudan
  4. ↑ "Sudan apostasy case: Meriam Ibrahim's marriage certificate shown to disprove adultery charges". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  5. 1 2 Newton, Jennifer (15 May 2014), "The wedding picture that signed a pregnant woman's death warrant: Sudanese Muslim doctor to be flogged and hanged... for marrying a Christian", The Daily Mail (UK: Amnesty), retrieved 18 May 2014
  6. 1 2 Sudan apostasy woman Mariam Ibrahim 'to campaign'
  7. ↑ "Daniel Wani to appeal pregnant wife Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag’s death sentence in Sudan", Africa (AU: News)
  8. ↑ Alexander, Harriet (25 June 2014) Meriam Ibrahim was 'kidnapped' and I went to police before she boarded flight to America, her brother says The Telegraph, Retrieved 27 June 2014
  9. 1 2 "Court frees death row Sudanese woman but rearrested with family". Sudan News.Net. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  10. ↑ "Sudan summons US ambassador in row over Christian convert". Telegraph. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  11. ↑ Meriam Ibrahim: Sudan 'apostasy' woman freed again
  12. ↑ US-Sudan Negotiating Over Fate of Mariam Ibrahim
  13. 1 2 "Meriam Ibrahim arrives in Rome". BBC News website.
  14. ↑ "Sudan woman gets death sentence for apostasy". Middle East. Al Jazeera. 15 May 2014.
  15. ↑ "Sudanese Woman Sentenced to Death After Marrying Christian". Time.
  16. ↑ "Sudanese woman may face death for choosing Christianity over Islam". Reuters. 13 May 2014.
  17. ↑ Weber, Katherine (5 June 2014) Sudanese Mother Meriam Ibrahim 'Should Be Executed' for Christian Faith, Brother Says The Christian Post, Retrieved 25 June 2014
  18. 1 2 "Meriam Ibrahim 'should be executed,' her brother says". Telegraph. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  19. ↑ Starkey, Jerome (25 June 2014) Meriam rearrested as she tries to leave Sudan The Times, (may need a subscription) retrieved 25 June 2014
  20. ↑ Jones, Leigh and Derrick, J.C. (24 June 2014) Meriam Ibrahim detained trying to leave Sudan World magazine, Retrieved 25 June 2014
  21. ↑ Husband finds pregnant wife shackled as she awaits hanging, IE: The Independent
  22. 1 2 Sudanese Christian Meriam Ibrahim speaks of her prison ordeal for the first time
  23. ↑ Save meriam, UK: CSW
  24. ↑ "Sudanese woman sentenced to death for apostasy gave birth with her legs chained, her husband says". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  25. ↑ "Sudan Mother's Death Sentence CondemnedPressure increases on Sudan after Meriam Ibrahim is forced to give birth while shackled to a prison floor.5:43pm UK, Friday 30 May 2014". Sky News. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  26. ↑ Sudanese woman spared death for apostasy meets Pope Francis'My daughter may never walk properly': Sudanese mother sentenced to hang for converting to Christianity reveals doctors' fears for the baby she gave birth to while in chainsMeriam Ibrahim Reveals Baby Daughter Will Undergo Ultrasound to See if She Can Walk; Family Hopes for US Move
  27. 1 2 3 "Sudan removed chains from Meriam Yahia Ibrahim after she gave birth in prison". Sidney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  28. ↑ Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Gives Birth in Sudan Prison as 1 Million Protest Christian Mother's Death Penalty
  29. ↑ "Christian in Sudan sentenced to death for faith; 'I'm just praying,' husband says", Africa (CNN), 15 May 2014
  30. ↑ (5 June 2014) Sudan’s PCP expects al-Mahdi to be released very soon Sudan Tribune, Retrieved 5 June 2014
  31. ↑ "Sudan death row woman 'to be freed'". BBC. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  32. ↑ "Meriam Ibrahim: Husband 'not informed of release'". BBC. 1 June 2014.
  33. ↑ Meriam Ibrahim's husband describes being terrorised by 'Agents of Fear'Sudan death row woman Meriam Ibrahim freed again
  34. 1 2 Sudan Death Sentence For Pregnant Woman, Sky
  35. ↑ "Cameron: Meriam Death Sentence Is 'Barbaric'". Sky News. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  36. 1 2 "Meriam Ibrahim and family arrive in Italy". The Independent website.
  37. ↑ "Sudan man to appeal wife's apostasy sentence". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  38. ↑ "22 Congressmen Urge Kerry to Tell Sudan: Free Meriam Ibrahim and Her Son Now". Cybercast News.com. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  39. ↑ "Meriam Yehya Ibrahim: International pressure rises against execution of pregnant Christian Sudanese woman jailed for apostasy". Christian Today. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  40. ↑ "What About Meriam, President Obama?". US News & World report. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  41. ↑ "Secretary Kerry: June 2014 » U.S. Condemns Sudanese Conviction and Continued Imprisonment of Meriam Ishag Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC 12 June 2014". U.S. State Department official website. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  42. ↑ "Wicker Calls for Immediate Release of Imprisoned Christian in Sudan". Senator Roger Wicker, official website. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  43. ↑ "UK slams 'barbaric' ruling in Sudan apostasy case", News 24, 16 May 2014
  44. ↑ "Sudan woman faces death for apostasy", News Africa (UK: BBC)
  45. ↑ "Pregnant Sudanese Woman, Meriam Yehya Ibrahim, Sentenced To Death For Her Faith", The Huffington Post (UK), 15 May 2014
  46. ↑ "Sudanese government minister intervenes in legal process", Africa (Al Jazeera), 17 May 2014
  47. ↑ RTÉ News and Current AffairsWoman sentenced to death in Sudan for converting to Christianity, IE: RTE, 15 May 2014
  48. ↑ WCC Calls on Sudanese President to Protect Mariam Yahia Ibrahim IshagSudan: WCC Calls On Sudanese President to Protect Mariam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag
  49. ↑ David Cameron 'Urges Sudan To Save Death Row Woman Meriam Yehya Ibrahim'
  50. ↑ "BBC references embassies' joint statement". BBC. 15 May 2014.
  51. ↑ Islam and apostasy: Show who’s boss, economist.com.
  52. ↑
  53. ↑ "European Parliament Passes Resolution Condemning Sudan Over Treatment of Meriam Ibrahim". ZENIT. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  54. ↑ "Sudan plays down death sentence for apostasy", Middle East (Al Jazeera), 17 May 2014
  55. ↑ http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2013/results/
  56. ↑ "Fatwa No 90878 'Death as a punishment for apostasy'". Islam web English. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  57. ↑ "Punishment for Apostates". Understanding Islam. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  58. ↑ Sahih Al-Bukhari, “Bab Hukm al Murtad wa al Murtadah”, Vol. 8, pp. 50, 163; Al Muwata’, “Kitab al Hudud”, Vol. 2, p. 736; Sunan Al Tirmidhi, “Kitab al Hudud”, Vol. 4, p. 48; Sunan Abi Daud, ‘Kitab al Hudud”, Vol. 4, p. 126; Sunan Ibn Majah, “Kitab al Hudud” Vol. 2, p. 848; Sunan AL Nasaee “Al Hukm fi al Murtad”, Vol. 7, pp. 103-104; Al Musnad, “Musnad ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Abbas”, Vol. 1, pp. 466, 605, 606, 691; Sunan Al Daraqutni, “Kitab al Hudud”, Vol. 3, p. 113 inter alia.
  59. ↑ "More young Muslims back sharia, says poll". Guardian. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  60. 1 2 "Woman who faced death for faith is free". CNN website.
  61. ↑ McKenna, Josephine (24 July 2014). "Sudanese Christian woman Meriam Ibrahim arrives in Italy". Telegraph. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  62. ↑ Meriam Ibrahim: 'I have always wanted and only wanted my faith'
  63. ↑ Meriam Ibrahim, Woman Freed From Sudan, Announces Plans To Settle In New Hampshire
  64. ↑ Sudanese Woman Sentenced to Death for Apostasy Will Settle in New Hampshire
  65. ↑ Meriam Ibrahim, Christian threatened with execution in Sudan, arrives in US
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