Pregnant woman to be executed for marrying a Christian

A heavily pregnant Sudanese woman doctor who married a Christian man has been sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted on charges of apostasy.

Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, whose father was a Muslim, was convicted on Sunday and given four days to repent and escape the death sentence, according to Sudanese officials.

She was sentenced after that grace period expired, the officials said.

She was born to a Muslim father but was brought up as an Orthodox Christian by her mother. However, because her father was Muslim, she was considered by the court to be the same.

The sentencing has drawn condemnation from Western embassies in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and international rights groups, including Amnesty International.

The court in Khartoum also ordered she be given 100 lashes for committing “zena” — an Arabic word for illegitimate sex — for having sexual relations with a non-Muslim man.

The couple married in 2011 and have a child, born 18 months ago. Under Sudanese law, her marriage to a non-Muslim is regarded as void.

Ishag, 26, can appeal against her death sentence as well as the 100 lashes.

As in many Muslim nations, Muslim women in Sudan are prohibited from marrying non-Muslims, though Muslim men can marry outside their faith. By law, children must follow their father’s religion.

Amnesty International said the conviction and death sentence were “truly abhorrent”.

“The fact that a woman has been sentenced to death for her religious choice, and to flogging for being married to a man of an allegedly different religion is appalling and abhorrent,” the rights group said in a statement. “Adultery and apostasy are acts which should not be considered crimes at all.”

The group also called for her immediate and unconditional release.

In court Mrs Ibrahim told the judge: “I am a Christian and I never committed apostasy.”

In a joint statement, the embassies of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands expressed “deep concern” over her case.

“We call upon the government of Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion, including one’s right to change one’s faith or beliefs.”

Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a British-based group working for religious freedom, said Ishag’s case is the latest among “a series of repressive acts” against religious minorities in Sudan.

It said deportations, the confiscation and destruction of church property, and other actions against Christians have increased since December 2012.

Information minister Ahmed Bilal Osman claimed there is no oppression of Christians.