Greg Musselman of Voice of the Martyrs Canada remembers the story.

It started when Meriam married Daniel, a young man with dual citizenship in Sudan and the United States. The problem was that he was a Christian, and though Meriam was raised as a Christian, “Her father who had left the family years before was a Muslim. And so in Islamic culture, if your father was a Muslim, even if he’s not part of the family, [you are] still considered a Muslim.”

This led to her arrest on charges of blasphemy. “She was given a sentence of 100 lashes for committing adultery because she had married someone who was not a Muslim and she was sentenced to death by hanging,” Musselman said.

(Photo courtesy of World Watch Monitor)

According to Muslim law, she could not be executed while she was pregnant, so she waited in prison for the beginning of her child’s life and the end of her own. However, that extra time gave her story a chance to be heard all over the world. “Because of the international pressure, she was eventually released and made her way to the United States,” Musselman said.

But why does it matter now? First of all, Musselman said she may be out of the frying pan but there still is a fire at her doorstep. “Even though she’s out of Sudan and into the United States, there are those who think she deserves death under the radical Islamic doctrine.”

But that only serves to make her perseverance now more inspiring. Despite the constant danger and a traumatic past, Meriam Ibrahim refuses to sit still.

“She is speaking up for those who are in similar situations as hers and then also bringing to light the fact that these are happening,” Musselman said. “Meriam’s case is just one of many that are going on around the world. It is still the plight of many Christian women and men around the world that are falsely accused and then are having to face these very horrific situations.”

The work Meriam’s doing is dangerous, but it’s bringing hope to believers stuck in dangerous areas around the world. Want to help? Your support is always appreciated, and you can pray that “she would continue to be bold in her faith, and continue to bring attention to the persecuted who are being challenged for their faith because they don’t go along with the radical brands of Islam.”

Advocacy Director for Open Doors USA Kristin Wright says, “Today is certainly a day of celebration for this courageous woman.”

Ibrahim’s release was an answer to many prayers and a lot of hard work. Wright says, “The Italian government was very instrumental in bringing Meriam’s ordeal to an end and bringing her out of Sudan. She’ll be spending a little time there. We don’t really know when she’ll be arriving here in the United States.”

Ibrahim actually was released from prison last month after giving birth to her second child in prison. This, her first release, was attributed to international outcry over her sentence of execution. Her father was Muslim, but he abandoned her as a baby, and she grew up in a Christian home.

Her paternal family members were the ones leveling the apostasy charges. “She’s faced substantial persecution from her own family. That’s been an ongoing issue from the beginning. Then, additional extremists were threatening her life while she was in prison and after her release,” Wright says.

Even though Ibrahim was released last month, she was re-arrested over false document charges while trying to leave Sudan for the United States. Those allegations were denied. Wright says, “It’s a tremendous relief that she was able to leave the country…. Many people were worried that the longer that she remained in Sudan, the greater the risk of her life and the lives of her family.”

While not all cases like this end the way Meriam’s did, Wright says, “Your letters, your phone calls, your actions can really make a difference. Meriam’s case stands as an incredible example of the power of advocacy and the power of speaking out.”

Dr. David Curry, President and CEO of Open Doors USA says, “The challenge is to eliminate violence against individuals for their faith.”

Open Doors has been supporting the persecuted church around the world for almost 60 years. Not just with advocacy, says Wright. “We continue to work and support them with practical aid” such as food, clothing, medicine, and shelter, as well as Christian materials and Bibles.

Sudan ranks #11 on the Open Doors 2014 World Watch List of the worst persecutors of Christians. You can find the complete list at http://www.WorldWatchList.us.

If you’d like to support Open Doors and their work with the persecuted church, click here.

(Wedding photo of Meriam Ibrahim and Daniel Wani, courtesy Daniel Wani)

Sudan (WWM/MNN) — Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the current status of Sudan’s “death-row mother” Meriam Ibrahim’s lack of freedom to leave Khartoum for a new life with her husband and children in America.

On July 17, Reuters reported that the lawsuit brought by Ibrahim’s Sudanese Muslim father was dropped. The lawyer handling the case said this move could allow her to depart for the United States, where her husband Daniel Wani is a dual U.S. citizen.

Then Sudan Tribune reported on July 18 that Ibrahim’s family filed another lawsuit, this time seeking to annul her marriage to her Christian husband. This is a another attempt to keep her from leaving Sudan, and an annulment of Wani and Ibrahim’s marriage would also mean the children would not be legally recognized as Wani’s children.

Early last week, Ibrahim’s family filed a lawsuit seeking to prove the biological link between Ibrahim and her Muslim father, but the suit was dropped without explanation by the family. A lawyer, Abdel Rahman Malek, acting on their behalf told Reuters news agency: “We are no longer proceeding with the lawsuit,” but he declined to give any reason.

The first scheduled hearing of the case would have been Thursday July 17 at the Khartoum Family Court.

The U.S. Department of State told World Watch Monitor that “the Government of Sudan has assured us of the family’s continued safety. It went on to say in an e-mail, ‘The Department of Homeland Security has informed us that Ms. Ishag [Meriam Ibrahim] and her children have all the documents they need to enter the United States as soon as the Government of Sudan allows them to exit the country.'”

Relatives of Meriam originally accused her of adultery by marrying a Christian.

WWM has several times reported the story of her death sentence from the court in Khartoum and its world-wide condemnation; we have also highlighted the general plight of Sudan’s Christians.

Ibrahim’s harrowing journey began with arrest in September 2013 before being found guilty of apostasy, sentenced to hang, and then giving birth to her second child while imprisoned. She was finally freed on 26 June 2014 and is now staying at the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum.

Meriam and her family are living in a makeshift home sleeping on four camp beds in the Embassy’s library. Despite these cramped conditions, her stay has prevented the Sudanese court serving papers, which could have contributed to the breakdown of the latest case against her.

The Sudanese government does not appear to have formally dropped its accusation of “incorrect travel documents.” Ibrahim is a Sudanese citizen, but the U.S. Embassy assisted her efforts to try to leave Khartoum using South Sudanese travel papers. Ibrahim was allowed to leave police custody after a brief detention on June 26 over the alleged ‘”forged” papers.

Further good news for Meriam’s family was recently reported by the UK’s Daily Mail: her baby girl was not injured, despite being born while her mother was shackled to the floor.

Meriam, herself a doctor, feared that being constrained during birth could cause irreparable damage to her daughter, Maya. It was feared that, like her father, Daniel, who has muscular dystrophy, she might not be able to walk. An ultrasound in the coming weeks is hoped to give Maya the all clear.

New to this story? Read previous stories here

Pray for Meriam’s new family with her Christian husband, as well as for her Muslim family.

Wedding photo of Meriam Ibrahim and Daniel Wani
(Courtesy Daniel Wani)

Sudan (ODM) — After Sudan faced unprecedented international pressure on her case, Meriam Ibrahim’s death sentence for apostasy was cancelled by a court in Khartoum and all charges against her were dropped.

But when she and her family attempted to leave Sudan on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, they were arrested again, detained, and eventually released. Currently taking temporary shelter in the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Meriam and her family are still waiting and hoping to be able to come to the United States.

Facing death threats from her own family, Meriam’s life is at risk the longer she stays in Sudan. It is crucial that she be granted safe and swift passage to the United States. You can take action for this courageous Christian woman and continue to be a voice on her behalf.

Open Doors is spearheading a campaign on Ibrahim’s behalf. They work in the world’s most oppressive countries, strengthening Christians to stand strong in the face of persecution and equipping them to shine Christ’s light in these dark places.

(Image courtesy Wikipedia)

Please take a moment to “copy” the letter below, click here to “paste” the letter into the approved White House form (in the “Comments” box contained in that form), then hit “submit” to send your message to President Obama.

You can make a difference for Meriam Ibrahim and her family. Thank you for being a voice for this courageous woman!

Dear President Obama,

I am writing to request that your administration take action to secure safe passage to the United States for Meriam Ibrahim and her American husband and children.

Meriam and her family cannot stay at the U.S. Embassy forever, and their lives are at great risk in Sudan. It is time for an urgent response on behalf of this courageous Christian woman.

It is clear that the situation involving Meriam and her family requires the immediate attention of your administration. I am asking that you take whatever action is necessary to ensure that Meriam and her American family receive safe passage to the United States.

Sincerely,
[Your Name] [Your address, city, state, zip]

Click here to make a difference!

(Wedding photo of Meriam Ibrahim and Daniel Wani, courtesy Daniel Wani)

Sudan (MNN) — The Sudanese Christian woman who was sentenced to death because of her Christian faith has received some good news — then some bad news. 27-year-old Meriam Ibrahim, who was sentenced to death after being accused of converting from Islam to Christianity, has been released from prison, according to her lawyer.

Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs reports, “She had been sentenced to be whipped and then to be executed. That sentence has been overturned by an appeals court in Sudan. We understand there are reports that she has already been set free from prison.”

Why does Nettleton think she was released? “The first people banging the drum for her were Christians and those who associated or understood her through our spiritual bond that we have through Christians around the world.”

That helped foster even more outcry. “The Sudanese government had come under intense international pressure: pressure from Great Britain, pressure from the U.S. State Department, pressure from around the world.”

Ibrahim gave birth to a baby daughter while in prison.

Nettleton says this is a great example of outspoken faith in Jesus. “Merium Ibrahim clearly and very publicly stood up for Jesus Christ, stood up for her faith in Him.”

Unfortunately, Ibrahim was re-arrested with her family at Khartoum airport, sources have told the BBC. No further information is available about this, other than Ibrahim was leaving the country for the United States, where her husband is a U.S. citizen. About 40 security agents detained Ms Ibrahim today as they tried to board a plane, a source told the BBC.

A tool to help secure her release in the first place was Voice of the Martyrs’ PrisonerAlert.com. “[It’s] a Web site where people can write letter to Christians in prison, but they can also write letters to government officials in the countries who are holding Christians. There are still Christians in prison around the world.”

Nettleton says you can have an impact on their future. “Pick one or more of the prisoners. Write them a letter. Write a letter to their president or prime minister or government official that’s also listed on the site, and have a voice for them.” Click here to learn more.

(Photo Omar al Bashir, courtesy Voice of the Martyrs Canada)

Sudan (MNN) — Lawyers for Sudan’s Meriam Ibrahim have not publicly noted a court date on her apostasy appeal.

According to the Voice of the Martyrs Canada, 27-year-old Ibrahim, is in custody with her 20-month-old son and her newborn baby girl, convicted for both apostasy and adultery. Sudan’s Islamic Sharia law considers her marriage an adulterous relationship because her spouse is a non-Muslim. For the “adultery” verdict, a Sharia judge sentenced her to 100 lashes.

She also maintains that her Muslim father left when she was young and that she was raised a Christian by her Ethiopian mother. However, according to Sharia law, children must follow their father’s religion. Ibrahim’s refusal to recant her faith and convert to Islam earned her the apostasy conviction and death sentence (May 11).  She’s been pressured to recant her faith but refuses to do so.

(Wedding photo of Meriam Ibrahim and Daniel Wani, courtesy Daniel Wani)

Although U.S. President Barack Obama has been silent on Ibrahim’s plight, leaders from Germany, Britain are calling for a halt to the execution. This week, five Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) lodged a formal complaint with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) against Sudan.

Is her incarceration legal? Voice of the Martyrs Canada spokesman Greg Musselman says, technically, “They don’t have a real leg to stand on,” however, Sudanese President Omar Bashir, an Islamist who seized power in a 1989 military coup, has implemented Islam more strictly now that the non-Muslim south is gone. That gave rise to “a concerted effort by the government in Khartoum to rid the North of Christianity.” VOMC also notes that the sentence cannot be carried out until at least after two years later since she is a breastfeeding mother. Her son’s custody would then be granted to the government.

As a fear tactic, the apostasy threat works, says Musselman. “It sends a pretty strong message to Christians in Sudan: ‘You’d better leave, or you’d better convert to Islam.'” In fact, some members of the small Christian minority in Sudan are going underground, says Musselman. “We work in that part of the world. We know of churches that have been destroyed, people who have been injured, and people who have been forced away. We need to be praying for the strength of the Church in Sudan. It is an Islamic country and it appears to be getting even more militant.”

Others, “It always has two kinds of effects: it will cause some to be stronger and more diligent in their faith in Christ, and others, it will cause fear, depending on how mature they are.” At this point, “Christians have had to live in that part of the country, in that part of the world, very cautiously, in how they share the Gospel, who they tell, especially if they come from Muslim backgrounds.”

The other appeal was filed by Ibrahim’s husband on the annulment of their marriage. There are petitions circulating calling for Ibrahim’s release and refugee status. Several campaigns have been mounted to put pressure on the Khartoum government. While that’s necessary and good, Musselman reminds us, “It always comes back to prayer, which is the number one thing we do: we need to be praying for Meriam, and also that would help us to be praying for our brothers and sisters in Sudan.”

(Map courtesy Voice of the Martyrs Canada)

Please bring this shocking and heartbreaking case to the Lord in prayer, asking Him to powerfully intervene. May the charges against Meriam be dropped so that she may return home with her husband and child. In the meanwhile, ask God to be especially near to Meriam and her children during their time in prison. Ask, too, that the Lord will grant peace to Daniel and other concerned family members so they may rest in the knowledge that He is very mindful of their plight and promises to lovingly hold the family in the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:15-16).

(Photo courtesy World Watch Monitor)

Sudan (MNN) — It’s been quite a roller coaster ride for those who’ve been following the emotionally-charged case of Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese woman who’s facing the death sentence for apostasy.

A study from the Pew Research Center revealed that Sudan is one of the world’s 1 in 10 countries that still outlaw apostasy, and one of the 1 in 5 countries that still outlaw blasphemy.

Open Doors USA spokesman Jerry Dykstra outlines the backstory in brief: “The government is saying that she was born into a Muslim family and that she was raised in the Islamic faith, so they’re saying that she was not always a Christian and that she did actually turn to Christianity later. That’s the reason that she’s been sentenced to death by hanging.”

Essentially, she was raised as a Christian by her mother, but Sudanese law states a child must follow their father’s religion. Meriam’s father was a Muslim. What’s more, she was convicted of apostasy and adultery for marrying a non-Muslim. Khartoum’s court then annulled her three-year-long marriage to a Christian man with U.S. citizenship and ordered that Ibrahim be given 100 lashes and hanged.

(Photo of Ibrahim’s son, in custody with her, courtesy World Watch Monitor/Daniel Wani)

Her case has brought international outcry for release, and on May 31, Dykstra says, “An official in the Foreign Ministry of Sudan made some statements to the international media that Meriam would be freed on Tuesday.” However, “Later on Sunday, the Foreign Ministry said the report from that official was not true. Many believe that official wanted to diffuse some of the flack that Sudan has been getting from all over the world.”

Lawyers representing Meriam added their doubt over the veracity of the report. Dykstra says their contacts in Sudan reported, “The Foreign Ministry is saying that those claims are not true and that she’s not being released on Tuesday. They’re following the traditional system on this case. The Defense team for Meriam is waiting for a verdict to their appeal process.”

The conviction was internationally condemned, when the then heavily-pregnant woman was sentenced to death for refusing to renounce Christianity, and she was reportedly imprisoned with her 20-month-old son. Pressure increased last week when she gave birth to her daughter, while restrained by shackles, according to Amnesty International.

Meriam has been under pressure to convert from Christianity to Islam with the promise to reduce or eliminate the charges, but there are no confirmed reports regarding her response.

Meanwhile, Dykstra urges you to help keep the pressure building. “We need to pray that there’s a positive resolution to this situation and the Christians out there from all over the world are praying. We also know there’s a Resolution in the Senate that asks for her release and gives her refugee status.”

(Khartoum photo courtesy World Watch Monitor)

Sudan is ranked #11 on the Open Doors 2014 World Watch List, a list of the most difficult countries in which to be a Christian. Dykstra says the restrictions on religious freedom make Gospel work tricky. “Christians fair very poorly in this country. There’s a great amount of pressure on Christians and it’s growing.”

The World Watch List is published annually by Open Doors International, a charity that supports Christians who live under pressure because of their faith.