Meriam Ibrahim Leaves Homeland with her Family

Daniel and Meriam
Photo: Gabriel Wani / Facebook

Meriam Ibrahim, the 27-year-old Christian woman who was sentenced to death for apostasy this past May, has finally been permitted to leave the country along with her family. Since this time, Meriam was detained in prison where she gave birth to her second child, a daughter. She was then released from jail on June 23rd, only to be detained the following day at the airport.

Meriam and her husband Daniel were apprehended along with their young children on charges of forgery and providing false information on their travel documents. Thankfully, they were released on bail on June 26th. (For more information on the gruelling circumstances Meriam and her family have endured in recent months, please visit this story.)

We are pleased to report that Meriam and her family have since legally departed from the country following negotiations made by the Italian government, prompting Sudanese authorities to grant her release. The Christian family arrived safely in Rome on the morning of July 24th. They are expected to remain in Italy before continuing their journey to the United States where Daniel is a citizen. (To view three brief BBC video clips of Meriam with her family, visit this BBC report.)

Praise God that Meriam and her family have finally been permitted to leave the country of Sudan. Please pray that any outstanding court cases against her will be dropped, and that this family will now be free to rebuild their lives. May this Godly couple and their young children, Martin and Maya, be completely restored after their long and arduous ordeal. Ask the Lord to remain especially near to this family as they travel to the United States, and may He also continue to provide them with opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

For more information on Sudan's persecuted church, please visit our website.

  • Country Information

    Population
    49,197,555 (2023 est.)

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

    Religion
    Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority

    Leader
    President (to be determined)
    Transitional military leadership in place

    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.

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Sudan News

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    Refugees in Sudan
    Photo: Flickr / EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (cc)

    Now in its eighth month, Sudan's civil war has displaced over six million people, many of whom were forced to take refuge in camps where food and other basic resources are scarce. Some humanitarian assistance has been provided to the country, which is then distributed through smaller local aid groups. According to a Christian ministry worker in the region, this aid has been denied to some displaced followers of Jesus.

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  • Christians Wounded Amid Military Violence
    Coptic church and bell towers in Kosti, Sudan
    A Coptic church in Sudan.
    Photo: Wikipedia / Bertramz (cc)

    Five Christians were injured when unidentified gunmen entered a Coptic Orthodox church in Omdurman, Sudan, in the early morning hours of May 14th. Those wounded during the attack were Rev. Arsanius Zaria and his son, a church cantor, a guard and another parishioner. All five believers received hospital treatment and have since been released.

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  • Church Leader Arrested on False Allegations
    A service at a chapel in Sudan.
    A chapel in Sudan.
    Photo: VOMC

    For two years, Abdalla Haroun Sulieman lived in Lebanon. Upon returning to Sudan in February 2022, Abdalla declared that he had come to faith in Christ. While sharing his newfound faith with the people of his community, he also prayed with them, frequently asking God to minister healing to those struggling with infirmities.

    Read more...

  • Apostasy Charges Added to Christian Couple's Case
    Blurred faces of Nada and Hamouda
    Nada and Hamouda
    Photo: ADF International

    Hamouda Teya Kaffi and his wife Nada Hamad Koko have been facing ongoing problems since he first came to faith in Christ during 2018. Since it was unlawful for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man, Nada's family initially forced her to have the marriage annulled by an Islamic court. At the time, Hamouda could have been accused of apostasy, an offence punishable by death, but he was fortunately spared of any criminal charges.

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Sudan Videos

 
The Persecution of Muslim-Background Believers in Sudan and the Middle East: An Interview with Dr. Yassir Eric
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Sudan: New Threat to Religious Freedom After Coup
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Sudan: Arrested for Missionary Work
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Sudan: Update on Loka School
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