Sudanese Christians Condemn Sentencing of Christian Woman to Death by Hanging

Women standing outside the All Saints Cathedral in Sudan. Christians in the country have recently come under increased pressure. Religion News Service photo by Fredrick Nzwili

Sudanese Christians have condemned the sentencing of a Christian woman to death by hanging after she married a Christian man.

Meriam Yehya Ibrahim, 27, refused to recant her Christian faith as ordered by the court.

A doctor who is eight months pregnant and currently in detention with her 20-month-old son, Ibrahim was charged with adultery last year. Recently, the court added an apostasy charge when she declared her Christian faith in court.

“This is very disturbing,” said Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Adwok of Khartoum.

Born of a Muslim father and an Orthodox Christian mother, Ibrahim married Daniel Wani, a South Sudanese Christian with U.S. citizenship, in 2012.

Adwok said he could not understand why the sentence was issued when the 2005 Interim National Constitution allowed freedom of religion throughout the country.

“She had openly declared her Christian faith,” said Adwok. “I don’t think it’s right to deny her that freedom.”

Click here to read more.

SOURCE: Religion News Service
Fredrick Nzwili