Paul KeenanCondemned woman had sheltered in US embassy
Meriam Ibrahim Ishag, the Christian woman held under a death sentence in Sudan on charges of apostasy has arrived in Italy following her long-awaited departure from Sudan.
Accompanied by her family and Italian Minister Lapo Pistelli, Meriam flew to Italy after a month living in the US embassy in Khartoum, where she had sought shelter when authorities attempted to level new charges with her in relation to her travel documents.
Meriam was sentenced to death In May when accusations were levelled that she was a Muslim who had married a Christian, thereby committing adultery and apostasy. Meriam, however, insisted that she had been raised as a Christian by her mother, albeit that her father was a Muslim. Held in Omdurman women’s prison, Meriam subsequently gave birth to her second child in chains as the international community voiced outrage at her plight.
Ultimately rowing back from the charges, the authorities released Meriam in June, raising hopes that she would quickly depart the country with her husband, an American citizen. However, accused of bearing false travel documents, Meriam sought shelter with her children in the US embassy compound.
Finally allowed to travel on July 24, Meriam and her family boarded a plane supplied by the Italian government and flew to Rome, where all were greeted by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.