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Sudan death row woman 'faked papers'

Meriam Ibrahim gave birth to a baby daughter in prison. Photo: BBC
BBC NEWS

The Sudanese woman freed from death row has been accused of trying to leave the country with fake documents, her lawyer has told the BBC.

Meriam Ibrahim was detained on Tuesday, a day after a court released her, annulling the death sentence imposed on her for renouncing the Islamic faith.

Mrs Ibrahim had emergency travel documents issued by South Sudan when she was detained at Khartoum's airport.

Mrs Ibrahim had reportedly planned to travel to the US with her family.

She was sentenced in May to hang for renouncing Islam, sparking an outcry at home and around the world.

She gave birth to a girl while on death row.

Sudan's appeal court overturned the conviction on Monday.

Travel document South Sudan's embassy issued the document on Monday

The US says it is working with Sudan to ensure Mrs Ibrahim, 27, is freed.

She was detained along with her husband, Daniel Wani, a US citizen, and their two children.

Mrs Ibrahim's lawyer, Elsherif Ali, told the BBC that Sudan's National Security and Intelligence Authority had lodged the complaint against Mrs Ibrahim, accusing her of obtaining a fake travel document.

Mrs Ibrahim is being held at a police station in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, he said.

South Sudan's embassy in Khartoum says the travel documents are genuine - her husband is a Christian originally from South Sudan.

L: Daniel Wani with his daughter R: David Wani with this son Daniel Wani visited his children at the prison near Khartoum
Meriam Ibrahim and her husband, Daniel Wani The couple got married in a church after meeting in 2011

Mrs Ibrahim's husband and children are believed to be staying at the embassy after being released, reports the BBC's Mohamed Osman from Khartoum.

Start Quote

Imagine a British citizen trying to travel wherever appearing at the airport carrying an emergency document from Costa Rica”

End Quote Abdullahi Alzareg Official from Sudan's foreign ministry

"We are worried; that's why we want to get out of here as soon as possible," Mr Wani told AFP news agency.

But with Sudan's intelligence agency now involved, Mrs Ibrahim's case is likely to be more difficult and complicated to resolve, our correspondent says.

Earlier, Sudanese foreign ministry official, Abdullahi Alzareg, said that Mrs Ibrahim was Sudanese and should not have been using another country's travel document, stamped with a US visa.

"She came to the airport in an American embassy car - which was bullet proof and heavily guarded," Mr Alzareg told the BBC's Newshour programme, describing this as "fishy".

"Everyone knows she is Sudanese. We know she is Sudanese... imagine a British citizen trying to travel wherever, appearing at the airport carrying an emergency document from Costa Rica. This is a violation of immigration law anywhere in the world," he said.

Mrs Ibrahim would be asked to apply for a passport and exit visa on her release, Mr Alzareg said.

Sudan has a majority Muslim population, and Islamic law has been in force there since the 1980s.

Born to a Muslim father, Mrs Ibrahim married Mr Wani in 2011.

Even though Mrs Ibrahim was brought up as an Orthodox Christian, the authorities considered her to be a Muslim because that is the religion of her father.

5 Responses to “Sudan death row woman 'faked papers'”

  • bvi (27/06/2014, 09:57) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why these wicked people don't leave this family alone so that they could live in peace. Since they were married until now, stress looks like it has aged them at least 20 years
  • Kya (27/06/2014, 22:51) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    "...death sentence imposed on her for renouncing the Islamic faith."

    Look at what this awful religion has done to my poor Africa.
  • Kingfish (28/06/2014, 09:45) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let us keep that "awful religion out of the BVI" and the entire Caribbean.
    • Kya (28/06/2014, 16:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Bravo Kingfish! Your sarcasm is the stuff of legend. I give you this quote. Can you tell where it came from?

      15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them".
    • watchful (01/07/2014, 07:37) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      Let us open our eyes in the British Virgin Islands and see how they are creeping in. The women now are wearing more jihab sporting it publicly unlike the past, they want mosque, and why do they have so many businesses in the BVI. Every door becomes vacant they are setting up shop. If they acquire all the spaces there will be no space for others. They want the whole block by Rite Way, slowly forcing out McKelleys and just waiting to take the spot. Where they getting this money from to set up so easily? Where they getting these quick trade licenses from? People of the Virgin Islands, this religion is filled with a lot of hate and violence. Let us be careful --- "kill the infidel who does not believe in Mohammed and accept the message of the messenger.." The Creator gave us a connection to him when we were born. We can go to him without mediators. Muslim religion seeks to control its members and dictate with strict rules.... be careful of them, BVI.


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