Meriam Yehya Ibrahim is 27 years old, eight months pregnant and facing 100 lashes and execution by hanging. This is simply because of her religious beliefs and who she chose as a husband. She is currently in jail with her 20 month old son.

Last year Meriam was arrested and charged with ‘adultery’ after a family member claimed that she was committing adultery because of her marriage to a Christian South Sudanese man. Under Sudan’s Criminal Code, a Muslim woman is not permitted to marry a non-Muslim man and any such marriage is considered ‘adultery’. 

When Miriam told the court that she was raised as a Christian and identified as a Christian, the court added the charge of ‘apostasy’ for abandoning Islam. 

The court gave Meriam three days to recant her Christian faith and Meriam refused. She now faces the brutality of 100 lashes on ‘adultery’ charges and death by hanging for ‘apostasy’.

There is time. The date of her execution has not yet been announced. According to Sudan’s Criminal Code, a woman that is heavily pregnant cannot be executed before giving birth to her child and nursing them for two years.  A government spokesperson has been quoted as saying that Meriam Yehya Ibrahim can appeal the ruling at a higher court.

Right now we have an opportunity to put pressure on the Sudanese Government to save Meriam from being punished for her marriage and what she believes in.

Send an email to Sudanese officials and join thousands of other Amnesty International supporters around the world calling for Meriam’s release.