Meriam Ibrahim rearrested at airport after being freed from Sudan prison
The woman in Sudan sentenced to death for allegedly abandoning the Muslim faith has been detained by security forces, just a day after she was released from prison. Meriam Ibrahim was set free Monday only to be arrested with her entire family in a dramatic scene at the Khartoum airport on Tuesday.
Ibrahim, 27, was “very happy” after an appeals court on Monday overturned a death sentence for apostasy because she married a Christian man and allegedly turned denounced Islam. Meriam was held along with her American husband, Daniel Wani, and their two children, Martin, almost two, and Maya, two weeks old.
Elshareef Ali Mohammed, the family’s lawyer, who was with them at the airport during the incident, said they were given no reason for their detention. It came just hours after photos emerged emerged online of Ibrahim smiling as she was reunited with her family.
Sudanese authorities are claiming that the family is being questioned about their paperwork and report that they “have not been arretsed,” says The Telegraph report.
Wani, in a phone call to CNN, also said that he and his family were being held at the national security office, but did not provide details.
The US State Department said that Sudan had assured them of the family’s safety, and that the US was working with the Khartoum government to help them leave the country as soon as possible.
“The State Department has been informed by the Sudanese government that the family was temporarily detained at the airport for several hours by the government for questioning over issues related to their travel, and I think travel documents,” said State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf. “They have not been arrested. The government has assured us of their safety.”
Harf said that the U.S. Embassy “has been and will remain highly involved in working with the family and the government,” saying “we are engaging directly with Sudanese officials to secure their safe and swift departure from Sudan.”
The ACLJ noted that “Other reports indicate that she was arrested by “national security officials” because of “national security concerns,” and she is beyond the reach of any civilian court.”
Wani is an American citizen and supporters of the family, backed by the senators from his state of New Hampshire, have urged the US to grant a visa to Meriam and citizenship to their two children.
Sudan will not recognize marriages between Muslims and non-Muslims. Meriam was also sentenced to 100 lashes for adultery. Her death sentence has been suspended because she was pregnant when arrested, gave birth in jail and was permitted to care for the newborn.
The ACLJ is leading the charge for the Obama administration to intervene. The new petition language reflects the latest development as they urge you to sign and stand with Meriam.
[…] While the previous charges against Meriam were dropped, her family is still seeking legal action under Sharia Law trying to annul her marriage to U.S. citizen Daniel Wani. The lawsuits are an attempt by her family to keep Dr. Ibrahim in Sudan and exact punishment on her for supposedly leaving Islam.” […]
[…] because you have the freedom to be offended. Homosexuals are executed in Muslim countries, the woman in Sudan has been re-arrested for marrying a Christian man, but here in America a cross-shaped beam found in the 9/11 rubble is […]