By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
BBC News reports that Abdullahi Alzareg, an under-secretary at the foreign ministry, said Sudan guaranteed religious freedom and was committed to protecting the woman who was to be release in a few days.
We had previously reported the plight of Meriam and how this death sentence clearly violated the Constitution of Sudan HERE and HERE. Merriam was raised by her Ethiopian Christian mother after her Muslim father abandoned her and the rest of her family. She was only six when the father walked away from the family. She is a Muslim in the eyes of Islamic law and thus, starting at age 6, her adoption of Christianity makes her an apostate. Furthermore, she was sentenced as an adulterer for her relations with her Christian husband and sentenced to 100 lashes after she delivered her child. Since Sharia law does not recognize her marriage to her husband Daniel Wani, she is treated as an adulterous. Her husband is disabled.
She was arrested in August 2013 after her own brother invoked Sharia law and opened a case against her and her husband for alleged adultery.
Merriam recently gave birth and can hopefully soon be together with her husband Daniel Wani and family. Dani is a U.S. citizen and his newborn child has birthright citizenship.
This is very welcome news and a testament to how international pressure can sometimes foster justice, even if it is long overdue. Yet, much more needs to be done for those who are less visible, living in oppressive states, awaiting the same human dignity and advocacy of their needs.
By Darren Smith
Source: BBC News
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