This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/30/husband-sudan-death-row-meriam-ibrahim

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Husband of Sudanese death row woman appeals for support Husband of Sudanese death row woman appeals for support
(about 9 hours later)
The husband of Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese woman sentenced to hang for apostasy, has appealed for global support to free his wife from death row, where she is being held with her two young children after giving birth while shackled this week. The prime minister and other political leaders have added their voices to the campaign to lift the death sentence given to Meriam Ibrahim, a Sudanese woman sentenced to hang for apostasy. David Cameron's announcement came after Ibrahim's husband Daniel Wani appealed for global support to free his wife from death row, where she is being held with her two young children after giving birth this week in shackles.
Daniel Wani, a US citizen since 2005, said mounting international pressure could have a significant impact on the Sudanese authorities, and he felt overwhelmed by "the way people have come together around the world" to protest at his wife's death sentence. Cameron said he was "absolutely appalled" when he heard of the decision. "The way she is being treated is barbaric and has no place in today's world. Religious freedom is an absolute, fundamental human right." His words were echoed by Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Tony Blair. Blair said it was a "brutal and sickening distortion of faith".
"I want to thank everyone for this stand. It's looking like it had an effect. Perhaps it will result in the judgment being overturned," he told CNN. Wani, a US citizen since 2005, said mounting international pressure could have a significant impact on the Sudanese authorities, and he felt overwhelmed by "the way people have come together around the world" to protest against his wife's sentence. "I want to thank everyone for this stand. It's looking like it had an effect. Perhaps it will result in the judgment being overturned," he told CNN.
Ibrahim was sentenced to 100 lashes for adultery and to death for apostasy this month. She told a court in Khartoum that she had been brought up as a Christian and refused to renounce her faith. She and Wani married in 2011, but the court ruled that the union was invalid and that Ibrahim was guilty of adultery. Ibrahim was sentenced to 100 lashes for adultery and to death for apostasy this month. She told a court in Khartoum that she had been brought up as a Christian, and refused to renounce her faith. She and Wani married in 2011, but the court ruled that the union was invalid and that Ibrahim was guilty of adultery.
Ibrahim, a graduate of Sudan University's school of medicine, has been told that her death sentence will be deferred for two years to allow her to nurse her baby.Ibrahim, a graduate of Sudan University's school of medicine, has been told that her death sentence will be deferred for two years to allow her to nurse her baby.
International condemnation of Ibrahim's conviction and death sentence has gathered momentum. Hundreds of thousands of people have signed an Amnesty International petition in support of her release, including more than 150,000 in the UK. More than 600,000 people have added their name to a separate petition on change.org. Condemnation of Ibrahim's death sentence has gathered momentum. Hundreds of thousands of people have signed an Amnesty International petition in support of her release, including more than 150,000 in the UK. More than 600,000 people have added their name to a separate petition on change.org.
Justine Greening, the UK international development minister, tweeted: "Sudan must not allow the execution of Meriam Ibrahim to go ahead. #SaveMeriam". Mia Farrow urged her Twitter followers to bombard the Sudanese embassies in London and Washington with calls demanding Ibrahim's release. Justine Greening, the international development minister, tweeted: "Sudan must not allow the execution of Meriam Ibrahim to go ahead. #SaveMeriam." Mia Farrow urged her Twitter followers to bombard the Sudanese embassies in London and Washington with calls demanding Ibrahim's release.
The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, backed a statement from the Christian Muslim Forum in the UK calling for the sentence to be rescinded. "I wholeheartedly endorse this call … for the death sentence against Mariam Yahya to be dropped," he said in a statement. The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, backed a statement from the Christian Muslim Forum in Britain calling for the sentence to be rescinded. "I wholeheartedly endorse this call … for the death sentence against Mariam Yahya to be dropped," he said.
Ibrahim, 27, gave birth to a baby girl in a prison clinic this week while shackled by her feet to the floor. Guards needed permission from the prison director to release the chains, which was not obtained, her lawyer Elshareef Mohammed told the Guardian. Ibrahim, 27, gave birth to a baby girl in a prison clinic this week while shackled by her feet to the floor. Guards needed permission from the prison director to remove the chains, which was not obtained, her lawyer, Elshareef Mohammed, told the Guardian.
Wani was permitted to visit his wife, new baby Maya and 20-month-old son Martin on Thursday at the Omdurman women's prison near Khartoum. "She is a beautiful baby, and they are all fine," said Mohamed. "Martin is with her, and is a bit jealous of the baby." Wani was allowed to visit his wife, new baby Maya and 20-month-old son Martin on Thursday at the Omdurman women's prison near Khartoum. "She is a beautiful baby, and they are all fine," said Mohammed.
He said Ibrahim and her children were being kept in the prison clinic, and Wani had been given permission to visit her twice a week. The shackles were removed on Wednesday. "Martin is with her, and is a bit jealous of the baby."
Siha, a coalition of women's rights organisations in the Horn of Africa, said it had been informed that Ibrahim had given birth "under atrocious conditions" and had been denied adequate medical care. It described her situation as "dire". He added that Ibrahim and her children were being kept in the prison clinic, and Wani had been given permission to visit her twice a week. The shackles were removed on Wednesday.
Both Wani and Mohammed said the US authorities in Khartoum had failed to press for Ibrahim's release. "It's not the US government, when the problem began the US consul here had a very negative position on this. She was very high handed … She said, and I quote, 'I don't have time'," Wani told CNN. Siha, a coalition of women's rights organisations in the Horn of Africa, said it had been informed that Ibrahim had given birth "under atrocious conditions" and had been denied adequate medical care. It described her situation as dire.
Mohammed said: "The US embassy is not giving help." A duty officer at the embassy in Khartoum said no one was available to comment. Both Wani and Mohammed said the US authorities in Khartoum had failed to press for Ibrahim's release. "It's not the US government; when the problem began, the US consul here had a very negative position on this. She was very high-handed. She said, and I quote: 'I don't have time,'" Wani told CNN.
The state department spokesperson Jen Psaki said on Thursday that US officials in Khartoum has conveyed "grave concerns" about the case to the Sudanese foreign minister this week, and were closely monitoring the appeals process. "We're doing everything we can to push for her release," she said. Mohammed said: "The US embassy is not giving help." No one was available for comment at the embassy in Khartoum .
The couple's lawyers have lodged an appeal against Ibrahim's convictions. "We don't know when there will be an outcome," Mohammed said. The state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Thursday that US officials in Khartoum had conveyed grave concerns about the case to the Sudanese foreign minister this week, and were closely monitoring the appeals process. "We're doing everything we can to push for her release," she said.
Wani said his wife was committed to her Christian faith. "Even last week, they brought in sheikhs and she told them: 'I'm pretty sure I'm not going to change my mind'." The couple's lawyers have lodged an appeal against Ibrahim's convictions. "We don't know when there will be an outcome," Mohammed said. Wani said his wife was committed to her Christian faith. "Even last week, they brought in sheikhs and she told them: 'I'm pretty sure I'm not going to change my mind.'"
Ibrahim – a graduate of Sudan University's school of medicine – has been told that her death sentence will be deferred for two years to allow her to nurse her baby.
Wani, who has muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair, lives in Manchester, New Hampshire. After he married Ibrahim, he took steps to bring her to the US.Wani, who has muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair, lives in Manchester, New Hampshire. After he married Ibrahim, he took steps to bring her to the US.
The UK Foreign Office has described the sentence as "barbaric", and summoned the Sudanese charge d'affaires to hear its "deep concern". The UN, Canada and the Netherlands have also called on the Sudanese authorities to overturn the convictions and release Ibrahim. The Foreign Office has described the sentence as barbaric, and summoned the Sudanese chargé d'affaires to hear its "deep concern". The UN, Canada and the Netherlands have also called on the Sudanese authorities to overturn the convictions and release Ibrahim.