Meriam Ibrahim, a Christian mother who was placed on death row in Sudan for her religious beliefs, has now fled to the nearby U.S. Embassy and taken refuge.
Ms. Ibrahim, 27, was handed down a death sentence for apostasy after her accusers found her guilty of denouncing Islam. She was put in jail, but international outcry grew so loud that she was released for a period on Monday.
She then tried to leave the country with her husband — who’s an American — and their two children, but was arrested again at Khartoum’s airport, NBC News reported.
BBC Arabic news service reported that she was released again late Thursday.
She then fled to the U.S. Embassy in Sudan for refuge. But her intended departure to America may still be on hold, due to new charges that have been raised against her related to the forged signatures she presented on documents at Khartoum’s airport earlier in the week, NBC News said.
One condition of her second release from government custody was that she promise not to try and leave Sudan, Reuters reported.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said on Thursday that Ms. Ibrahim had in her possession all the documents she needed to leave Sudan.
“It’s up to the government of Sudan to allow her to exit the country,” Ms. Harf said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.