Sudanese woman facing apostasy death penalty to be freed

A Sudanese woman, who was sentenced to death by a court for abandoning Islam after she married a Christian man, is to be set free, a foreign ministry official said.

According to the BBC, Meriam Ibrahim, who gave birth to a daughter in custody, will be freed in a few days, the official said.

The announcement comes amid international condemnation faced by Khartoum over the death sentence.

Abdullahi Alzareg, an under-secretary at the foreign ministry, said Sudan guaranteed religious freedom and was committed to protecting the woman, the report added.

The woman was sentenced to death by hanging for apostasy- abandoning her religious faith.

 

Meriam was also awarded 100 lashes for committing adultery, as her marriage to a Christian man was not valid under Islamic law.