By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
After an international outrage and widespread condemnation following the death sentence of a pregnant, Christian Sudanese woman accused apostasy and adultery for her marriage to a Christian man, the Sudanese Government has publicly stated it would instead release Meriam Yehya Ibrahim from custody.
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
The views expressed in this posting are the author’s alone and not those of the blog, the host, or other weekend bloggers. As an open forum, weekend bloggers post independently without pre-approval or review. Content and any displays or art are solely their decision and responsibility.
Darren, It is a long time for our guy to endure. But, that is the reality of war. Now, all his brothers and sisters are @ greater risk. No one can deny that. I think Obama is banking on people not understanding this. I really think he did this for a photo op. He is in free fall politically. This literally gives me agita. This isn’t posturing on my part. But, there will be plenty of it as the discussion evolves.
Bergdahl’s imprisonment was heartbreaking.
What could have been done?
1. Leave him
2. Boots on the ground rescue. An recent example was when Carter attempted to free the American hostages held in Iran. The mission failed. IIRC, Nick angrily says Carter “killed” the Americans that died in the helicopter crashes.
3. Trade hostages. Nick says never.
I’m very glad to have Bergdahl released. I think Obama made a good and humane decision.
Some Americans will differ.
Jamie, I tire of the Dem v Rep, Bush v Obama drama. Just the other day I said the Mission Accomplished was cartoonish. MSM like the NYT, WashPo are alarmed @ this “deal.” We got a soldier who wandered away from his post. They got top Taliban commanders. All soldiers, as do all guards in a maximum security prison, understand the drill, if you’re taken hostage we will not negotiate. That protects ALL OTHERS. I know it’s difficult to wrap your head around. You should have seen my mother try and understand the concept when I worked @ Leavenworth. It took a lot of explaining!
The Afghan war IS NOT OVER. We still have thousands of troops and civilians there. They are ALL @ much greater risk. They are now bargaining chips. This is VERY bad.
Nick, I am not a big fan of Obama and did not vote for him either time (I didn’t vote GOP either), but to say that Obama having his photo taken with the parents makes you ill, then I assume GWBs ‘Mission Accomplished’ setup was near terminal for you.
I am sure you have much experience, but when do wars end? These are not good people. but America’s lomgest war needs to end.
To say it sets precedent is wrong. Prisoners were exchanged after the Civil War, Vietnam War, WWII, WWI, Korean War. Why is this so much different? Wars end and prisoners are exchanged. These 5 will be managed in Qatar for a year.
From the GOP reaction, they would rather see US prisoners held captive till death than be released through an exchange.
I have to agree in the sense this is an exchange of prisoners in, allegedly, a draw-down of war. Yet, it is true it is not as straight forward as is the case between say countries engaged in war with each other. I understand Nick’s and others’ concern this might be feeding into negotiating with terrorists as has been shown to be counterproductive but we are not fighting a state, the enemy in Afghanistan are non-state actors, so it seems the prisoner exhcange is not as cut and dried with regard to prisoners as it might be with terrorists.
Israel several times in the past exchanged those with allegiance to terror organizations with their soldiers, in fact in a much higher ratio than what has been with that ours. Five years is a long time for one of ours to endure.
yep, they decided to kill the hubby instead cause he’s gay.
Jamie, I voted for Obama in 2008. I am an INDEPENDENT.
Jamie, I know where you come from. Obama is your guy. This is a horribly dangerous precedent. It puts soldiers and civilians @ greater risk. Please let me explain. When I was a guard @ Leavenworth the first day you were told THERE ARE NO HOSTAGES. If inmates take control of you, walk up to the front gate and say open or will slit his f@ckin’ throat, THE GATE WILL NOT OPEN..EVER! The reason is simple, once taking a hostage works everyone is a potential hostage. If it doesn’t work, no one is. That is the brutal reality of a maximum security prison w/ the baddest of the bad, and that WAS the rule up until today. I see your guy had a photo op w/ the parents of Bergdahl. Makes me sick to my stomach.
Dale, I tried to find a source that said these shitbirds released from Gitmo were “not terrorists,” and that we had little evidence. I could not verify your assertion. The NYT reports they were all HIGH LEVEL w/ Mohammed Nabi Omari being the most senior Taliban commander @ Gitmo. These 5 were involved w/ the killing of many US and allied soldiers and THOUSANDS OF Shiites! These TERRORISTS were some of the worst or the worse. These were commanders and intelligence OFFICERS, not just grunt soldiers.
Prisoners were exchanged after every war. Even the Israelis and Arab states exchanged prisoners. Why should Afghanistan be any different? And what don’t GOP types realize that the released soldier may be able to provide important information? And why don’t they realize that the released soldiers are not going back to Afghanistan immediately?
And Nick, how many in Gitmo had no ties to terrorists and were held for years regardless?
I think if Obama ended world hunger the GOP would say that he made America weak because now everyone can eat sufficiently, even our enemies…… It’s amazing…..
Dale, They’re not in Gitmo for car theft!
The Bergdall trade was done in light of a near total withdrawal of US troops by the end of 2016. Besides, the evidence against the 5 in Guantanamo was slim and not likely to hold up in court. That is why they were not put on trial. The term “terrorist” gets way overused!
Justice, Obama will never take a tough stand on blasphemy. Hell, he just traded 5 Taliban killers in Gitmo for a US Soldier. A horrible capitulation. It makes US soldiers and civilians @ much higher risk than they already are. Obama projects cowardice[drones] and weakness. The Middle East only respects strength and courage.
I am glad she will be freed but I will wait to celebrate until she is in a safe place. This does not change my view that the US and President Obama must take a strong stand against any type of international blasphemy standard and must cut all ties to theocracies including the Sudan.
Good news. Commonsense justice can sometimes prevail even in the dimmest of justice systems.
Seems the link to the Taliban article is broken.
Eleazer – that movie is in my Netflix cue. Was it good or just heartbreaking?
I am over the moon. This case has preyed on my mind, especially since her little boy has been in jail with her.
Unless we want to read about yet another ambush honor killing, Mr. Wani needs to bring his family back to the US. If he does return, I hope you can post another update.
Thanks!
Reminds me of the movie “The stoning of Soraya M”–good to hear this news.
The power of people of all faiths and social media.
Great news. Thanks for the update.
Glad to hear this. Won’t believe it until she is out of the country though.