Meriam Ibrahim detained at airport in ‘abuse of power’
Sudanese Christian convert Meriam Ibrahim and her two young children are re-arrested at Khartoum airport, just hours after photos are released showing her smiling, and free from prison.
Ms Ibrahim was released on Monday by the Sudanese appeal court following international outcry about her treatment. But the family have now been “re-arrested” by around 40 officials at Khartoum airport, where they were reportedly planning to fly to the United States, where Ms Ibrahim’s husband is a citizen.
(Picture: Elshareef Ali Mohammed)
Ms Ibrahim’s lawyer Elshareef Ali Mohammed told Channel 4 News that that the whole family, including the two young children, were also detained. He added that security officials had given no reason for the re-arrest, and he called it an “abuse of power”.
Photographs released to Channel 4 News earlier on Tuesday show 27-year-old Meriam Ibrahim dressed in bright green, her husband Daniel Wani (in a wheelchair), baby daughter Maya and 21-month-old son Martin.
Ms Ibrahim had been detained since February with her young son, and gave birth to her baby daughter in shackles, while in prison.
She was sentenced to death in May for abandoning Islam by marrying a Christian, sparking outrage around the world. A court had ruled that she was Muslim because that was her father’s faith, and her Christian marriage of 2011 was officially annulled. 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.
Ms Ibrahim had argued that although her father was a Muslim, he abandoned his family when she was six and she was brought up by her Christian mother.
A court ruled that she should be freed on Monday 23 June, but she was rearrested just one day later at the airport.
(Picture: Elshareef Ali Mohammed)
(Picture: Elshareef Ali Mohammed)