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David Cameron condemns Meriam Ibrahim death sentence in Sudan | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
David Cameron has urged the Sudanese government to lift the "barbaric" death sentence given to a mother accused of leaving Islam to marry a Christian man. | |
The PM said he was "absolutely appalled" by the treatment of Meriam Yehya Ibrahim Ishag in Sudan, who gave birth in her cell on Wednesday. | |
Ms Ibrahim, whose father was Muslim, is sentenced to hang for abandoning her religious faith. | |
UK leaders Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband have also condemned the sentence. | UK leaders Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband have also condemned the sentence. |
Mr Cameron said the treatment of Ms Ibrahim had "no place in today's world" and said the UK would "continue to press the government of Sudan to act". | Mr Cameron said the treatment of Ms Ibrahim had "no place in today's world" and said the UK would "continue to press the government of Sudan to act". |
"Religious freedom is an absolute, fundamental human right. | "Religious freedom is an absolute, fundamental human right. |
"I urge the government of Sudan to overturn the sentence and immediately provide appropriate support and medical care for her and her children," he said. | "I urge the government of Sudan to overturn the sentence and immediately provide appropriate support and medical care for her and her children," he said. |
Even though Ms Ibrahim, 27, was brought up as an Orthodox Christian by her mother, a court in Sudan ruled earlier this month that she was Muslim because it was her father's faith. | |
She has refused to renounce the faith and has been sentenced to death by hanging for apostasy. | |
'Utterly appalling' | |
Her Christian marriage, in 2011, has also been annulled and she has been sentenced to 100 lashes for adultery because her marriage was not valid under Islamic law. | |
Sudan has a majority Muslim population and Islamic law has been in force there since the 1980s. | |
Deputy prime minister Mr Clegg called the sentence "abhorrent" and said it was a "flagrant breach of international human rights". | Deputy prime minister Mr Clegg called the sentence "abhorrent" and said it was a "flagrant breach of international human rights". |
"This case is a grave violation of the basic right and freedom to practise one's religion," he said. | "This case is a grave violation of the basic right and freedom to practise one's religion," he said. |
Labour leader Mr Miliband said the incarceration of Ms Ibrahim was "utterly appalling and an abhorrent abuse of her human rights". | Labour leader Mr Miliband said the incarceration of Ms Ibrahim was "utterly appalling and an abhorrent abuse of her human rights". |
"Nobody should be persecuted because of the religion they practice or the person they fall in love with. | "Nobody should be persecuted because of the religion they practice or the person they fall in love with. |
"I cannot imagine the suffering - both physical and emotional - that Meriam, her husband and their two young children must be going through," he said. | "I cannot imagine the suffering - both physical and emotional - that Meriam, her husband and their two young children must be going through," he said. |
Former UK prime minister Tony Blair has also described the case as a "brutal and sickening distortion of faith". | |
The human rights organisation Amnesty International meanwhile has launched a petition calling for the Sudanese government to release Ms Ibrahim. | |
Her husband, Daniel Wani, who is a US citizen, told the BBC he was hopeful an appeal against the sentence would be successful. | |
Mr Wani said he had seen his new daughter in prison on Wednesday - saying that mother and baby were both doing well. | |
However, he said he was most concerned about his 20-month-old son, who has been living with his mother in prison since February. | |
"His attitude has changed a lot," Mr Wani said of his son. | |
"He used to be a happy boy. When I went there, he just looked at me. No smile," he said. |