'Deep Concern' over Apostasy Case in Islamist Sudan

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Western embassies in Sudan expressed "deep concern" on Tuesday over the case of a woman who activists say risks a death sentence for apostasy.

Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, who says she is Christian, was convicted last Sunday in the Khartoum-area district of Haj Yousef.

"We call upon the government of Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion, including one's right to change one's faith or beliefs,"  the embassies of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands said in a joint statement.

That right is included in Sudan's 2005 interim constitution as well as in international human rights law, they said.

The court has given Ishag, who is pregnant, until Thursday to recant her faith, Amnesty International says.

A refusal would put her at risk of the death penalty, and she also faces up to 100 lashes for "adultery", the watchdog said in an "urgent action" notice about her case.

The "adultery" charge stems from her marriage to a Christian South Sudanese man, Amnesty said, adding that under Sudan's interpretation of Islamic sharia law a Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man and any such relationship is regarded as adulterous.

The embassies urged Sudanese legal authorities "to approach Ms. Meriam’s case with justice and compassion that is in keeping with the values of the Sudanese people".

Sudan's Islamist regime introduced sharia law in 1983 but extreme punishments other than flogging are rare.

Amnesty said Ishag, 27, was raised as an Orthodox Christian, her mother's religion, because her Muslim father was absent.

"It's not only Sudan. In Saudi Arabia, in all the Muslim countries, it is not allowed at all for a Muslim to change his religion," Information Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman told Agence France Presse.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a British-based group working for religious freedom, said Ishag's case is the latest among "a series of repressive acts" against religious minorities in Sudan.

It said deportations, the confiscation and destruction of church property, and other actions against Christians have increased since December 2012.

But Osman said there is no oppression of Christians.

"We are living together for centuries," he said.

Deportations have only occurred against activists trying to convert people, which is not allowed, the minister said, adding religious buildings constructed without permits will be knocked down.

"Even a mosque, you cannot build a mosque without a license... If you build it like that, it will be demolished."

Comments 6
Default-user-icon AndyB (Guest) 14 May 2014, 12:51

Equally silly in principle, but at least they're not murdering unbelievers.

Missing jeff070 14 May 2014, 20:02

God does not threaten people. He gives a choice, a free will, given at creation. It is up to you to make a decision of where you want to end up. your life is not pre-destined until you give it to Him, in which you will know your destiny (eternal presence with Him).

Default-user-icon TerryCollmann (Guest) 15 May 2014, 00:40

So, Jeff070, what happens if you DON'T 'give your life' to the Big Bearded Fairy In The Sky?

Do you not understand how you've been lied to?

Default-user-icon Ross (Guest) 15 May 2014, 03:19

What if you are born in an area were no such religion exists?

Default-user-icon MUSLIM (Guest) 15 May 2014, 13:33

Well done Sudan for setting a good example to the Muslim countries that still haven't managed to shake off the secularism that was imposed on them by the European colonialists. We are not here to please the Western world and live up to its hypocritical notions of human rights and religious freedom. You certainly gave those innocent Iraqi and Afghan babies a dose of your human rights when you dropped white phosphorus bombs on them. We follow the book of Allah and the tradition of his final messenger (pbuh) down to the letter. Like it or lump it!

Default-user-icon Bill Egly (Guest) 16 May 2014, 15:58

The Islamic satan worshippers are going after the way of the false prophet Muhammad. God has prophetized all this in the Holy Bible. If the Muslims do not repent they will spend an eternity in Hell. There will probably be more women martyred before The Book of Revelation is fulfilled.