SUDAN: Sudan Woman Faces Death Penalty for Apostasy
A Sudanese
court has given a 27-year-old woman until Thursday to abandon her Christian
faith or face a death sentence, judicial sources have said.
court has given a 27-year-old woman until Thursday to abandon her Christian
faith or face a death sentence, judicial sources have said.
Mariam Yahya
Ibrahim Ishag, who was born to a Muslim father, was charged with apostasy, as
well as adultery, for marrying a Christian man, something prohibited for Muslim
women to do and which makes the marriage void.
Ibrahim Ishag, who was born to a Muslim father, was charged with apostasy, as
well as adultery, for marrying a Christian man, something prohibited for Muslim
women to do and which makes the marriage void.
The human
rights group, Amnesty International, said Ishag was raised as an Orthodox
Christian, her mother’s religion, because her Muslim father was absent.
rights group, Amnesty International, said Ishag was raised as an Orthodox
Christian, her mother’s religion, because her Muslim father was absent.
Ibrahim’s
case was the first of its kind to be heard in Sudan, the Reuters news agency
reported. A final ruling will be announced on Thursday.
case was the first of its kind to be heard in Sudan, the Reuters news agency
reported. A final ruling will be announced on Thursday.
Sudanese
rights activists sharply condemned the accusations and called on the Sudanese
government to respect freedom of faith.
rights activists sharply condemned the accusations and called on the Sudanese
government to respect freedom of faith.
“The
details of this case expose the regime’s blatant interference in the personal
life of Sudanese citizens,” Sudan Change Now Movement, a youth group, said
in a statement.
details of this case expose the regime’s blatant interference in the personal
life of Sudanese citizens,” Sudan Change Now Movement, a youth group, said
in a statement.
Western
embassies in Khartoum also expressed “deep concern” over the case.
embassies in Khartoum also expressed “deep concern” over the case.
“We
call upon the government of Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion, including one’s right to change
one’s faith or beliefs,” the embassies of the United States, Canada, the
United Kingdom and the Netherlands said in a joint statement.
call upon the government of Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion, including one’s right to change
one’s faith or beliefs,” the embassies of the United States, Canada, the
United Kingdom and the Netherlands said in a joint statement.
The
embassies urged Sudanese legal authorities “to approach Ms Mariam’s case
with justice and compassion that is in keeping with the values of the Sudanese
people”.
embassies urged Sudanese legal authorities “to approach Ms Mariam’s case
with justice and compassion that is in keeping with the values of the Sudanese
people”.
Speaking to
the AFP news agency, Ahmed Bilal Osman, Sudan’s Information minister, 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.”
the AFP news agency, Ahmed Bilal Osman, Sudan’s Information minister, 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.”
President
Omar al-Bashir’s government is facing a huge economic and political challenge
after the 2011 secession of South Sudan, which was Sudan’s main source of oil.
Omar al-Bashir’s government is facing a huge economic and political challenge
after the 2011 secession of South Sudan, which was Sudan’s main source of oil.
A decision
by Bashir last year to cut subsidies and impose austerity measures prompted
violent protests in which dozens were killed and hundreds were injured.
by Bashir last year to cut subsidies and impose austerity measures prompted
violent protests in which dozens were killed and hundreds were injured.
Source: News Agencies
