Meriam Ibrahim Has Been Released, But Her Ordeal Isn't Over Yet

Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese woman released from death row and then detained trying to leave Sudan, has been freed for the second time.

Meriam Ibrahim
Meriam Ibrahim

Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese woman released from death row and then detained trying to leave Sudan, has been freed for the second time.

Meriam Ibrahim has been released following a second arrest at Khartoum airport in Sudan, where she was apparently trying to leave for the US.

Meriam was sentenced to 100 lashes and hanging in May for renouncing Islam, but was released on Monday, 23 June.

Meriam, who was forced to give birth to her baby daughter in prison, was then detained at Khartoum airport, along with her husband, Daniel Wani, and their two children.

The 27-year-old was detained for allegedly falsifying ID documents and was prevented from leaving the country. She's been charged with forgery over emergency travel documents she tried to use, because Sudanese officials say she should have used a Sudanese passport.

She's now been released but is not allowed to leave Sudan.

'She is in the US embassy now,' her lawyer Mohanad Mustafa said. 'She and her husband think this is a safe place for them.'

Speaking to the BBC as she left custody, Meriam said: 'I would like to thank the Sudanese people and the Sudanese police. I would like to thank those who stood beside me.'

When asked about her plans following her release, she said: 'I will leave it to God. I didn't even have a chance to see my family after I got out of prison.'

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