Fight for Meriam’s Freedom!

on July 7, 2014

(To Juicy Ecumenism readers: If you do not receive the Religious Liberty e-newsletter on a regular basis and wish to continue hearing news about the Persecuted Church worldwide, please use the “subscribe” button on the top menu on the Juicy Ecumenism blog site and scroll way down to the “Religious Liberty” category and click on “subscribe” there.)

Sudanese Christian wife and mother Meriam Ibrahim Yahya, 27, who was sentenced to death by hanging for refusing to give up her Christian faith, is no longer in prison. But she is still in danger in Sudan.

On Friday we celebrated our Independence Day and thanked God for the freedom we enjoy and those who made it possible. But we must not forget our sister Meriam Yahya Ibrahim. We must continue to fight for Meriam’s freedom and defend her right to come to the United States with her South Sudanese American citizen husband, Daniel Wani, and their two little children.

Last month, IRD and 45 other organizations banded together in a campaign called Rescue Meriam. We co-sponsored two demonstrations to call attention to Meriam’s plight. The first, on June 12, was at The White House. The second, on June 13, was at the Embassy of Sudan.

The photos included in this newsletter are from those demonstrations and were taken by IRD intern, Jonathan Fuller. Among our speakers were U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and U.S. Representative Trent Franks (R-AZ).

Arrest Bashir shirts for the rally

Our sister Meriam’s road has been an extremely rough one, with many uphill climbs and unexpected turns, but the Lord has been with her through it all. Here are some updates since my last e-newsletter:

Maya

On May 27, 2014, daughter Maya was born to Meriam and Daniel in the Omdurman Women’s Prison in Khartoum, Sudan. This was where Meriam was incarcerated, and at the time — sentenced to death for apostasy (see above) and to 100 lashes for the crime of adultery. (Sudan’s Sharia court considers her a Muslim, and Muslim women are banned from marrying Christian men.)

This little girl, probably the only U.S. citizen born in a Sudanese prison, joined her big brother, Martin, aged 20 months. Martin, also the child of U.S. citizen Daniel, was in prison with his mother the whole time that Meriam was incarcerated. The Sharia court would not allow Daniel to have custody of them because he is a Christian.

Meriam was kept in shackles while giving birth, with chains limiting her feet to a very short distance apart. We ???????????????????????????????received the heartbreaking news this week that because of these egregious conditions for labor, Maya may be permanently disabled. In a CNN interview, Meriam and Daniel revealed that doctors do not know if she will be able to walk unassisted.

The sooner the family can get out of Khartoum to the United States and get expert medical care for Maya, the better. In the meantime, let us pray for complete healing for this baby. Pray that GOD will strengthen Maya’s legs, straighten anything that is crooked, bring His power into every muscle, bone, tendon, vein, and blood cell in those little legs, and heal her.

The Appeal and the Aftermath

Release! — On Monday, June 23, 2014, the Appeals Court in Khartoum overturned the decision of the Shariah court that had condemned Meriam and cleared her of all charges. She was released from prison and taken to a “safe location.”

Rearrest! — The very next day, June 24, Meriam and Daniel and the children were detained at the Khartoum Airport by some 40 agents of the dreaded Sudan National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) while trying to leave the country.

Meriam was charged with attempting to use false documents. (The South Sudan emergency travel document she was carrying was provided to her by the U.S. State Department, along with a visa for the U.S.) This charge could carry a 7 year sentence.

Sudan Stop Beating Women

Release Again! — After holding Meriam and the family for some hours, they were released when a brave young Sudanese Muslim supporter of freedom posted Meriam’s bail. The U.S. Embassy now has them under protection and states that it is working with the Sudanese government to get them out of the country and on to the U.S. They need to work hard and they need to work fast. Not only is Meriam still vulnerable to the radical Islamists, including her own self-identified “brother,” but Maya should be receiving medical care.

Please ACT NOW to join us by adding your voice in support of Meriam! Why not follow up your Fourth of July celebration by doing your part to ensure that someday soon, Meriam and her children will enjoy the same freedom that we have here in America. Please go to the Institute on Religion and Democracy’s Rescue Meriam home page to automatically send an important letter to your U.S. representatives, encouraging them to keep the pressure on the State Department and the Obama Administration in general, on Meriam’s behalf.

When this courageous woman was sentenced to death for apostasy, she was given three days by the Shariah judge to “repent” and renounce her Christian faith. But Meriam said no. She told the judge, “I am a Christian, and I will remain a Christian.” Even in a country with no religious freedom, Meriam has inspired thousands by defying Shariah and its claims to her body, mind, and spirit! She has encouraged the people of Sudan who believe in freedom and democracy by opening her mouth and speaking truth.

Will you open your mouth and speak for Meriam?

No comments yet

The work of IRD is made possible by your generous contributions.

Receive expert analysis in your inbox.