Update: Sudanese Christian Woman Sentenced To Death For Renouncing Islam May Be Released

The Sudanese mum who has been sentenced to death by hanging after being given 100 lashes may soon be freed.

According to DailyMail UK;

Meriam Ibrahim, who gave birth to a daughter in her prison cell  last week, has been sentenced to  100 lashes and death by hanging after a Sharia court convicted her for converting to Christianity, and ‘adultery’ because she had wed a non-Muslim. But campaigners for Meriam urged caution at the reports she could soon be freed, warning that the Sudanese government could be ‘playing games’.

Authorities in the country are said to be working out a way to free Meriam thhat will be consistent with the country’s laws, according to Foreign Ministry under-secretary Abdelah Al-Azrak.

He said: ‘The related authorities in the country are working to release Mariam (sic) who was sentenced to death for apostasy, through legal measures. I expect her to be released soon’.

President Omar al-Bashir, who has imposed Islamic law on Sudan, has come under increasing pressure since the sentencing of Ms Ibrahim, 27, for apostasy on May 15.

MailOnline has led the way revealing Mrs Ibrahim’s shocking treatment.

In the past week we revealed how she gave birth while still in shackles inside her squalid prison, and reported on the heartbreak, angst and pride of her husband while she faced her ordeal behind bars. We also highlighted a petition for her release, organised by Amnesty International, which was signed by 750,000 people. After the horrifying details came to light, David Cameron described her treatment as ‘barbaric’ and said it has ‘no place in today’s world’.

Former PM Tony Blair described the case as a ‘brutal and sickening distortion of faith’. However, Mrs Ibrahim’s lawyers said they do not believe the offer is genuine, and is a ploy to silence the growing outcry. Elshareef Ali Mohammed, one of her legal team, told the Telegraph: ‘It’s to silence the international media. This is what the government do. We will not believe that she is being freed until she walks out of the prison’.

Tina Ramierez, of religious freedom group Hardwired, said campaigning for Meriam’s freedom is more important now than ever.

‘They could just be saying this just to get everyone off their backs. We have seen them do that before,’ she told MailOnline. ‘Its essential that we keep the pressure up until Meriam is actually freed. The statement we have seen says that they are looking for a ‘legal’ way to free her but we don’t know what they mean by that. Daniel did not even know about this until he heard the reports and they did not contact him first’.

Mrs Ibrahim, a qualified doctor, was thrown in jail in September and earlier this month was sentenced to death for apostasy and adultery for marrying Daniel Wani, a Christian Sudanese man with U.S. citizenship who lives in Manchester, New Hampshire. She was also sentenced to 100 lashes as the Sudanese court operating under strict Shariah law refused to recognize her 2011 marriage because her father was a Muslim. The judge ruled that even though Meriam’s father left her family when she was six and she was raised as a Christian, she should still worship Islam. Her Christian marriage was annulled and she was sentenced to 100 lashes for adultery and death by hanging for renouncing Islam. Sex outside a ‘lawful relationship’ is regarded as adultery under Sudanese law.

The case prompted questions over whether the UK should continue giving aid to countries which do not respect human rights. Conservative North Somerset MP Liam Fox, the former defence secretary and shadow foreign secretary, said: ‘We need to ask ourselves whether it is acceptable too be giving taxpayers’ money in aid to states which allow treatment such as that handed out to Meriam Ibrahim.’

Mrs Ibrahim’s husband Mr Wani said his son has become sullen and withdrawn since being incarcerated with his mother. He added that his wife was under pressure to convert so she can leave prison but that she was ‘committed’ to her right to religious freedom.

A spokeswoman for the US-based Sudan Justice Centre added that Meriam has come under ‘intense pressure’ in recent days to renounce her Christian faith. She said: ‘They have been promising Meriam money and security if she becomes a Muslim.

‘They have said they will protect her and her family if she does what they want. She has had clerics in her cell practically the whole day telling her to give up her Christian faith. She feels like she is under a lot of pressure but she won’t do what they want.’

Earlier this week Meriam gave birth to baby Maya whilst inside the jail where her son Martin, 20 months, has been staying with her. Despite this, she will be given her 100 lashes in just two weeks’ time unless her appeal is a success. Mr Wani said: ‘They say the marriage is void. Now, even my wife is no longer my wife. And my son is not mine and my new daughter is not mine. They say I am a stranger to them.

‘I know my wife puts on a brave face but I can tell that she is  in quite a bit of pain. To see her walking in chains is difficult.’  Source: Daily Mail UK