Sudan's apostasy death sentence condemned

(Vatican Radio) The United States, the European Union and advocacy groups have strongly condemned the death sentence imposed on a 27 year old Sudanese woman for converting to Christianity. They are calling on Sudan to respect the religious freedom guaranteed in its own constitution.
Mariam Yahya Ibrahim refused a court order to abandon her new faith and return to Islam.

She was also charged with adultery for marrying a Christian man.

A government spokesman said the ruling can be appealed in a higher court.
Lydia O’Kane spoke to Christian Soldarity Worldwide’s Africa Advocacy Officer (the name is withheld for security reasons) who says Mrs Ibrahim is a life long Christian.
“She was raised as a Christian and been brought up in the Orthodox tradition and so although the courts say she has converted faith, she would say herself that she’s never been a Muslim and that she is a Christian.”
According to CSW this sentence is the latest and most significant in a series of repressive acts by the Sudanese government against religious minorities. The Advocacy Officer says “in Sudan we are seeing this rising increasingly since South Sudan ceded and definitely since December 2012 there has just been an increase in repression against minority faiths, Christians in particular.”
Mrs Ibrahim’s lawyers have asserted their intention to launch an appeal, a process which could take several months. Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s interview with Christian Soldarity Worldwide’s Africa Advocacy Officer