Sudanese Mother Put On Death Row For Marrying A Christian Meets Pope

A Sudanese Christian mother, who was put on death row for abandoning Islam, has arrived in Rome today to meet Pope Francis.

Meriam Ibrahim together with her husband and two children was greeted at the airport by Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who said that "today is a day of celebration." Later she met Pope Francis at his Santa Marta residence at the Vatican. The family was in good mood and would stay in Italy for a few days before departing for the U.S.


As Reuters reports, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said: "The Pope thanked her for her witness to faith. The meeting, which lasted around half an hour, was intended to show "closeness and solidarity for all those who suffer for their faith."

Lapo Pistelli, Italy’s vice-minister for foreign affairs, who accompanied her on the flight from Khartoum said: "But her life is in danger so she feels she has to leave. Just two days ago a group called Hamza made a statement that they would kill her and everyone who helps her." 

Meriam’s stay in Italy was organised by the Italian government in collaboration with the Sudanese government.
It would be recalled that Meriam’s case drew worldwide attention in May when she was sentenced to death over charges of apostasy. Meriam Yahya Ibrahim Ishag was pregnant with her second child when a Sharia court in Sudan sentenced her to death by hanging for refusing to renounce her fate and convert admit she was a Muslim.

The execution was delayed for about two years in order to allow her to give birth and to nurse the baby. The prisoner has given birth to a bouncing baby girl in the end of May 2014.  Later the Sudanese government made a U-turn and on June 1, 2014, promised to release the woman in the “coming few days”. Apparently, they kept their promise, despite it took them three weeks.

However, Meriam, along with her Christian husband and their two kids, were detained at airport during attempt to leave the country. But then they were released and further found refuge at the US embassy. Meanwhile, father’s family filed a lawsuit trying to have her marriage annulled, on the basis that a Muslim woman is not allowed to marry a non-Muslim.