On these pages, I have recently written about the plight of Meriam Ibrahim Yahia, who was sentenced by a court in Sudan to death by hanging for “apostasy” and for 100 lashes for her “adultery.” Unlike most definitions of adultery, the Sudanese court found her to be an adulteress for having married a Christian husband, who is also an American citizen. In recent weeks, with her ankles shackled in chains, Meriam gave birth to a little girl, Maya.
Meriam’s ordeal began last year when members of her biological father’s family, people she hadn’t seen in many years, tracked her down, and accused her of adultery and apostasy. Although she produced a marriage certificate to a Christian man, the court found her marriage invalid since her biological father was a Moslem. However, Meriam’s father had abandoned her and her mother when she was a young child. She had been raised as a Christian, and never practiced Islam. However, under Sharia law, a daughter of a Moslem is a Moslem by birth and may not marry a Christian man, despite her upbringing or her personal convictions as an adult. Further, under Sharia law, Moslem men are free to marry Christian women, though the opposite is not true for women. Meriam Ibrahim, a successful businesswoman, is a physician. It was reported that her biological father’s family only found her after hearing about her success. By filing these complaints against her, her father’s family believes they can secure her assets, business, and children after she is hung.
During this nightmare, she was asked to deny her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ three times, and three times she has refused. Now, Meriam, Martin, her toddler American son, and Maya, her newborn American daughter, lie in a bug and filth-infested Sudanese prison cell, a victim in the real Islamic war on women. Section 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Sudan guarantees “every person . . . the right to the freedom of religious creed and worship, and to declare his/her religion or creed and manifest the same . . . no person shall be coerced to adopt such faith, that he/she does not believe in.” Even under Sudanese law, the national constitution trumps other enacted laws, such as the Criminal Code, under which Meriam was convicted. Further, Sudan is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (“ICCPR”). The ICCPR is a major treaty on human rights, and not merely a suggestion. Article 18(1) of the ICCPR provides, “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice . . .” Despite these laws, the Honorable Judge Abbas al Khalifa found a “legal basis” to convict Meriam for adultery and apostasy, based on her proclamation of her Christian faith. Although pressured during her court hearings to recant Christianity, Meriam stood firm in her faith and has refused to do so.
As you can well imagine, Meriam’s American husband, Daniel, is distraught over the situation, and is not allowed custody of his children because under Sharia law, the children are considered to be Moslems. Daniel, an American citizen, confers U.S. citizenship to his children at birth. However, last week when Daniel again visited to the U.S. consulate in Khartoum to obtain that recognition, in a reprehensible display of obstruction and contrary to mandates of U.S. immigration law, American consular officials demanded that Daniel present the results of a DNA test. (Of course, getting blood samples from the children sitting in prison pose their own practical problems to comply with the consulate’s edict.) So now two American children are in a Sudanese prison with their “apostate” mother, and the American consulate is demanding that DNA test be conducted. (Just begin to imagine the umbrage to an American policy demanding DNA tests for the children of all illegal aliens or persons applying for legal immigration status before any government benefits be provided?) Please use your voice to demand that your Congressman and Senators call the Department of State to protest this outrageous requirement and issue the U.S. passports to these two U.S. citizen children. The U.S. consulate should also immediately issue to Meriam an emergency travel document known as “Significant Public Benefit Parole” so that upon her release, she can immediately board a flight out of Sudan. In addition to writing to our government officials to demand justice for Meriam and her family, please write to Meriam at the following address:
Dr. Meriam Yahia
Omdurman Prison for Women
P.O. Box 65
Omdurman, Republic of Sudan
In your letter or card, please assure Meriam of your prayers and support, congratulate her on Maya’s birth, and praise her for her courage and testimony for Christ. I am certain that Meriam will be greatly encouraged to know that Christians everywhere are praying for her. In Hebrews 13:3, we read, “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.”
Postage appears to be $1.15, and you can’t use stamps that don’t have the value printed on them (e.g., “forever” stamps).
There is apparently a $1.15 international forever stamp, but you have to get it from a postal clerk. I think it is good for all foreign countries.
Here is a letter that was mailed to Secretary of State John F. Kerry, along with copies to my two Senators:
Dear Secretary Kerry:
I urge you to intervene directly in the case of Dr. Meriam Ibrahim Yahia, who was recently sentenced by a court in Sudan to death by hanging for “apostasy” and for 100 lashes for adultery. Further, she is in prison with her son, Martin, a toddler, and her newborn daughter, Maya. Upon information and belief, her American husband, Daniel, was recently told by U.S. consular officials in Khartoum that to obtain recognition that the children from their marriage are American citizens, he is to present the result of DNA tests proving paternity. Despite the fact that getting blood samples from children sitting in prison poses difficult, practical problems, your consular officials have acted with a reprehensible display of obstruction and arrogance, and their edict is contrary to the mandates of our nation’s immigration law. We urge that the consulate in Khartoum immediately issue to Meriam and her children an emergency travel document known as “Significant Public Benefit Parole” so that upon her release, she can immediately leave the Republic of Sudan. Further, we urge that you publicly demand the immediate release Dr. Yahia from prison. Until she is released, the United States should suspend all financial and humanitarian aid given to the regime of Omar al-Bashir.
Thank you so much for the info and the letter. I emailed a copy of it to Secretary Kerry and also used it in an appeal to our female senator as a “woman to woman” concern. I’ve been following this story via facebook and praying for God’s will for a blessed outcome for all concerned.
We sent off a card for Sister Meriam today with the following words:
Dear Sister Meriam,
We were so happy to hear about the recent birth of Maya, and I hope that you know that you are in the thoughts and prayers of so many people around the world. You are a powerful example of great courage and faith for your strong testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition to praying for you, our friends and us are also pressing government officials in both the United States and Sudan to release you and your children from prison. We thank God for you because your faith is flourishing and your love grows. We believe that God will use these difficult days to show His real justice. May God continue to bless you and your family richly.
With love and deep respect,
Secretary Kerry issued the following statement on Thursday:
The United States remains deeply concerned about the conviction and continued imprisonment of Ms. Meriam Yahya Ibrahim Ishag. Sudan’s journey has long been a struggle, and back when I was still a United States Senator, I traveled to the region many times to help find greater understanding and hope for a different kind of future. As Secretary, I remain deeply committed to the country and its people. That is one of the reasons we are all so concerned about the travails of Meriam Yahya Ibrahim Ishag. Ms. Ishag is the mother of two young children. She and the children should be reunited at home with her family rather than held in prison on charges of apostasy. I urge the Sudanese judiciary and government to respect Ms. Ishag’s fundamental right to freedom of religion. I also urge Sudan to repeal its laws that are inconsistent with its 2005 Interim Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Such actions would help to demonstrate to the Sudanese people that their government intends to respect their fundamental freedoms and universal human rights.
Is it known whether Dr. Ishag even recieves any mail addressed to her in Omdurman prison?
Could you please post your answer for all to see?
Thanks
Would it not be better to address letters for Dr. Ishag to her attorney in Khartoum or to her husband, staying in Khartoum or even to her brother-in-law, Mr. Gabriel Wani here in the US? Or even to Amnesty International? Would that not have a better chance of Dr. Ishag actually receiving the letters addressed to her ?
Also , maybe for every letter sent to Dr. Ishag directly in prison, you could also sent a copy of your letter to Mr. Gabriel Wani in the US (the address is known) . That way, her brother-in-law can pass word to her even if the administration of Omdurman prison intercepts and withholds all her mail from her.
Also, I think Dr. Meriam Ishag’s husband, Dr. Daniel Wani, who CAN receive mail should get encouraging mail, both for himself and for his wife.
My heart goes out to Dr. Ishag, her children and her husband.
Gisela, while it is possible that some or all of the cards for Sister Meriam are not received by her, someone at the prison will have to read them, translate them, write reports, and forward the letters and reports to the Ministry of Justice officials in Khartoum. But word of the cards and letters will filter to her. For example, guards at the Evin Prison in Iran have asked American pastor Saaed Abedini, “What does it mean that Jesus is the Bread of Life?” So the words of our cards do make a difference.
A very fine piece!
http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/16/pruden-going-awol-in-the-war-on-women/