Young Mother Released on Bail, Facing New Charges

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Daniel and Meriam
Photo: Gabriel Wani / Facebook

After being apprehended by authorities the day after her acquittal and release from prison, Meriam Ibrahim and her family remain in Sudan and now face new charges.

Meriam, 27, was sentenced in May with both apostasy and adultery, as government officials didn't consider her marriage to a Christian man valid. Although she was released from prison on June 23rd, she was detained the next day along with her husband, Daniel, and their two young children at the airport in Khartoum. The couple has been charged with forgery and provision of false information for using travel documents issued by the Embassy of South Sudan. (For more information on these new charges, please visit this page.)

Mervyn Thomas of Christian Solidarity Worldwide has argued against the charges: "Their extended detention, which occurred despite the provision of credible evidence by relevant officials from the South Sudanese embassy that negates every allegation levelled against them, violates Sudan's criminal procedures as well as article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Sudan is a signatory." The family is reportedly required to remain in Sudan until this new case is concluded.

In addition to these latest charges, Meriam recently shared that she fears her infant daughter, who was born in late May while she was shackled to the prison floor, may be physically disabled due to the mistreatment she endured during labour and delivery.

Please continue to keep this distressed family in your prayers, asking God to greatly encourage and strengthen them each day. When they feel weary from this difficult and agonizing trial, pray that they will continue looking to their Saviour for guidance. May these new charges quickly be dropped so they will be free to depart Sudan. Ask God to grant His wisdom to the legal team as they advocate on this dear family's behalf. Please also pray for Meriam and Daniel's newborn daughter, asking God to grant this little one strength and healing from any possible injuries or disabilities caused by the harsh treatment of the prison workers.

Country Information

Population
46,751,152 (July 2021 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Sudanese Arab (70), Fur, Beja, Nuba and Fallata (30)

Religion
Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority

Leader
President (vacant)
Military transitional council under General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman al-Burhan

Government type
Presidential republic

Legal system
Mixed legal system of Islamic law and English common law

Source: CIA World Factbook

Pray for Sudan

Pray that Christians throughout Sudan will continue to entrust themselves to Christ and preach the Gospel boldly, knowing Jesus is the ruler over the kings of the earth (2 Timothy 1:7-12, Revelation 1:5).

Pray also that peace, justice and religious freedom may be firmly established.

end

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