The Sudan Embassy has responded to a letter from Christian Voice protesting at the sentence and incarceration of Meriam Ibrahim.
Meriam Ibrahim is the Christian Sudanese doctor sentenced to death and to 100 lashes for apostasy, that is converting from Islam to Christianity, and for adultery, that is marrying a man who is not a Muslim.
Despite Meriam being brought up by her mother as a Christian, she counts as Muslim according to Sudanese law because her father was Muslim.
Meriam has just given birth to a daughter in prison and has a 2-year-old son by her husband, Daniel Wani. The Court says she must stay in prison for two years to nurse her baby and will then be executed. It is not know when the flogging is scheduled.
On Friday 6th June 2014, Christian Voice held a witness at the Sudanese Embassy jointly with the Pakistani Christian Association, who also fight for persecuted Christians.
Khalid Al Mubarak, Media Counsellor at the Embassy, said this in an email just received:
Dear Mr. Green,
Thank you very much for your letter. H.E. The Ambassador appreciates your interest in the welfare and stability of our country.
As far as Mrs. Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag is concerned, we didn’t issue a press release about her because it would not be appropriate (in the Sudan and most countries) to comment on a court case which is at a preliminary court. Court cases pass through several stages of appeal and higher courts before a final verdict is reached.
The time for comment is after the final conclusion of the case.
However, I would like to assure you that the Sudan (according to our interim constitution) is a multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-religious country. We have Christians in our Cabinet and in all walks of life. Our ancestors embraced Christianity before some southern European states and we acknowledge that in our National Museum where the remnants of our old churches are preserved and displayed.
A Coptic Christian Sudanese lawyer visiting the UK for an Oxford conference has declared last year that he has never felt discrimination because of his religious belief. Jews and Christians are called “People of the book” in the Koran and we are instructed to deal with them in good faith and amicably.
Moreover, in Islam, one cannot be a Muslim if one does not believe in Moses and Jesus.
Thanks again for your letter and rest assured that the human rights and religious rights of all Sudanese are treasured and well-preserved.
Sadly, this amounts to flannel.
The world will judge whether Sudan treasures and preserves the ‘human rights and religious rights of all Sudanese’ and whether the ‘People of the book’ are dealt with ‘in good faith and amicably’ not by words but according to whether the verdict and sentence passed against Meriam Ibrahim is lifted and whether the Islamic apostasy law remains in force in the country.
We are also aware that Jesus Christ, the crucified, risen, ascended, glorified Son of God and King of kings is downgraded in Islam to the level of a prophet.
The Ambassador of the Republic of the Sudan to United Kingdom and Ireland is His Excellency Abdullahi H A El Azreg.
The address of the Sudanese Embassy is 3 Cleveland Row, St. James, London SW1A 1DD
The email address is pressmediasudan@yahoo.co.uk
Britain has been reported as giving £175m of aid to Sudan since 2003 Your MP may be contacted via the Parliament Website.
Find out how to join Christian Voice and stand up for the King of kings (clicking on the link below does not commit you to join)
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Dear people of God in the Sudan, I greet you all in the holy name of God. The different peoples of the Sudan are all peoples of God regardless of their religious professions. God knows that all the different peoples of the world are all created in the image of God. So God does not discriminate against anybody in the world because of his or her belief in God. So let us all learn how to co-exist peacefully with one another regardless of our religious professions. It is true that the different peoples of the world are all multi-cultural, multi-religious, and multi-lingual, and, therefore, we are all free to co-exist with one another regardless of our ethnicities, races, and religious professions. May the people of the Sudan show love of God to Meriam Yahia Ibrahim, her dear husband, and their two little children, God has graciously given them, as wife and husband, and as parents, to them. May God have mercy upon all of us throughout the world. Amen!
Bishop Ochola II M.B
Rtired Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Kitgum
this is just a delaying tactic . the case was conducted without any witness for the defence or evidence for being admitted. . does he or any one refute the fact that her half brother who instigated the case, stands to profit from acquiring her business.
This goes to show just how deplorable Sharia Law is.
Even more depressing is the lack of action by the British government, to put effective diplomatic pressure to compel Sudan to back down, in this instance.
This represents, just the tip of the iceberg, regarding the injustices and cruelties committed against Christians and wider society, under the banner of Sharia Law.
Meriam case, whilst catching the attention of the media and the world, is just a single case amongst a myriad of atrocities against mostly Christians in the majority of hardline Islamic states.
It is time for Cameroon to recognize Sharia Law, for its inhumane face and pugnacious injustice, and start effective use of soft pressure and economic sanctions.
Meriam (and indeed all persecuted Christians in Islamic states) are not mere stats, but real people (fearfully and wonderfully made) and deserve better, from the British government (which still supports Sudan with Aid) currently doing very little to bring about changes and demonstrable help for persecuted Christians.
It is an appalling failure by the British government (and other Western powers) of global community, and the democracies they represent.
I do not understand why Meriam has been imprisoned if “Sudan is a…multi-religious country” according to it’s constitution, as this spokesman says. I understand that she has been imprisoned for ‘apostasy’ against Islam but how does that tally with Sudan being a multi-religious country?
Is he saying that Sudan tolerates other religions but Islam prevails and is law in that country? (I’m genuinely asking someone to clarify this for me please)
If this is the case, then his statement that Sudan is a “multi-religious” country is of very little comfort because ultimately it counts for nothing.
Perhaps you should write and ask His Excellency that very question, Laura.
Laura and others unlike the rulers of North Korea the rulers of Sudan do not want to be seen by the people of other nations as barbarians . I suggest informing his Excellency that this case will be bought to public attention where Sudan has an Embassy – this is easy to do given google translation. And free blogs that via key words used would come up when someone in say Singapore google searches Sudan Embassy http://www.sudanembassy-kl.org.my also at the moment they are in the process of setting up web sites in some locations http://www.sudanembassy.se
It would appear in this case that the Shariah law on apostasy simply doesn’t apply. The woman might have had a Muslim father but she was brought up as a Christian and that is the faith she professes. Therefore she is not a Muslim and has never been a Muslim.
As a person cannot renounce what he or she has never believed, the charge of apostasy fails.
Except that the prosecutors have argued that a child is deemed to follow the faith of his father.
How do we know the story about Ibrahim is even true? Is it because it appears on Sky-CNN-BBC-FOX all TV channels whose integrity is beyond dispute, who have never been caught out lying (e.g. Ukraine crisis) and who care deeply about Christianity?
According to the testimony of none other than U.S. General Wesley Clarke seven Arab nations were covertly targeted for regime change (i.e. destruction) by the Washington neocons (the usual culprits) as early as 2001. Sudan was on that list (and with the benefit of hindsight you can guess who the rest of those tragic nations were).
Before a nation is targeted by the neo-cons expect to see massive M-S-M demonization. This is known as soft power.
Just food for thought since there is a very real chance that churches are being duped and manipulated to advance the agendas of our real enemies.
Because the story in all its essentials has been confirmed – or admitted – by the Sudanese Embassy.
Are you absolutely certain that this letter really came from the Sudan Embassy Stephen? I looked up Khalid Al Mubarak on the Sudan Embassy website and his email address is stated as being Khalid.mustafa@sudan-embassy.co.uk, not pressmediasudan@yahoo.co.uk. He could have two email addresses of course, but it seems a bit odd for an official to use a yahoo address…
Yes, of course. It was in reply to the letter we dropped in to the Embassy itself last Friday week. It is quite normal for Embassies and High Commissions to use yahoo email addresses. Make no mistake. I am cool with conspiracy theories but this one has no supporting evidence whatsoever. Meriam Ibrahim is a real person, married to a real husband, with real children, under a real death sentence, languishing in a real Sudanese prison. And if she is not released, there will be a further real witness outside the real Sudanese Embassy on Friday 4th July from 2pm to 4pm.
i think the most effective protest is the one that ensures the most people around the world know of this, As it is Sudan claims that anyone whose biological father is a Muslim can be executed if they do not become a Muslim.
when people around the world want to find a Sudan Embassy the frequently type it into google. If you use free http://www.blogspot,com and put key words Sudan Embassy lots of times with name of respective country people searching will come across it especially if you have Sudan Danger , in local language – http://www.translate.google.co,uk will you a pretty good translation into almost any language required – than post a couple of links to Daily Mail /Telegraph articles on this. Wherever in the world reader is google will offer instant translation into local language. The Times is behind paywall. Telegraph even has CNN interview with Meriam;s half brother who instigated the case in order to gain her business. It would also be worth letting the Sudanese Embassy in London know about this. Its clear from press reports that the care about their international image. Her two year old son is with Meriam in the prison as they will not let his father have him ,The half brother of course does not want him only her property –
Meanwhile further north, ISIL has invaded northern Iraq very successfully, and quite a number of alleged atrocities have been committed, not least alleged crucifixions for apostasy .
I just have to comment… I am a American Muslim and this what Sudan is doing to this poor lady? Actually in Islam, the Qur’an “They” as the Sudan officials who are oppressing her would be sentenced to death. There is ABSOLUTELY no compulsion in religion. Although she was raised as a christian, lets say she was a Muslim and denounced her religion and became a christian or a atheist for that matter.. That is her God given right and these barbaric animals who are misguided evil sub humans know this is in the Qur’an, and over 30 verses.
It is very heartbreaking and Obama should worry less about the anti gay law in Uganda and worry about this women health and life along with her kids since he is policing the world. This is considered oppression and NO, She should not renounce her faith and beliefs… whoever is doing this to her should be executed herself…
Honestly what everyone should do is hold a huge protest in front of the white house until the President does something..
You can get that organised, Noor.
Sharia Law DOES not apply at all. nor is Sharia Law actually a law besides what is the worship and a way of life on does and dont’s between the person and God.
You are talking about Fisq, and even in that there is ABSOLUTELY unequivocally NO PUNISHMENT FOR APOSTASY OR any other punishment. Although being raised a christian, even if she was raised a Muslim, there is no Islamic law on this. God gives people the free will to believe what they want.
The killing of apostates as a punishment for the sole reason of one’s choice of religious beliefs is not sanctioned by the Quran.
Here are all the verses that proves this.. http://quransmessage.com/articles/apostasy%20FM3.htm
It really makes me angry that our govt who is policing everyone is not taking this seriously…
I think you have to be more realistic, Noor. You are an American Muslim, and for you President Obama is in charge of everything. But Sudan is a Muslim country, and for them what they say is Islam is Islam. People are fighting over exactly what this is now in Iraq. None of them are going to ask you, and President Obama is not in charge in Sudan or Iraq.
Honestly, you might as well ask President Obama to tell the people of Italy that Roman Catholicism is not true Christianity, and protest until he does something.
I’m sure we are all delighted that Meriam Ibrahim has been released now, and those who were part of the Christian Voice demonstration will be congratulating themselves and praising God .
However, an “expert” on Sudan interviewed on BBC Radio 4 claimed that sentences like this are handed down but seldom carried out in Sudan. According to him, international Christian demonstrations calling for her release actually delayed it, because the Sudanese government couldn’t afford to be thought to be giving way to Western Christian pressure.
I have no way of telling which is right .
[…] However, Churches have been closed, burned by mobs and looted by criminals while the police stood by. Some church leaders report of a requirement by the authorities to register the land their churches stand on which is difficult to meet. High registration fees and corruption mean that a lot of land in Sudan is unregistered and for churches to be singled out and required to produce registration documents shows a level of harassment. Sudan is a precarious place to be a Christian, despite Sudanese assurances to the contrary. […]