Just two days ago I was celebrating the release of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag and her two children from Sudanese prison and the overturning of her death sentence for being a Christian. Almost as soon as I got my post about Answered Prayer up, the news came that the entire family had been rearrested at the airport.
The news reports since then have been full of conflicting information.
Here as I understand it, are the facts of the story. Daniel Wani was born in Sudan and is confined to a wheel chair due to muscular dystrophy. He fled Sudan as a refuge and lived in the United States. During his time in the US he became a US Citizen and has been one since 2005. In 2011 Daniel married Meriam, in a Christian ceremony. Both of them claim life long membership in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Meriam has a half brother Al Samani Al Hadi Mohamed Abdullah who insists that his half sister Meriam has committed Islamic Apostasy and should be sentenced to death. He is also the source of the adultery charge. Under Islamic law if Merriam is not legally married to Daniel, Mr. Abdullah will inherit Meriam's successful businesses upon her death. Mr. Abdullah is the person who filed both the adultery charges and the Apostasy charges against his half sister. If the sentences are carried out, he will profit handsomely.
Meriam has steadfastly claimed she is a Christian and has refused to renounce her faith or her marriage to Daniel.
Monday Meriam was released from prison when her conviction was overturned during legal review of the case. Daniel, Meriam and their two children went to the airport and were awaiting a plane, some reports claim it was going to America, when they were "detained". From this point on the facts of the story are unclear.
One of the reports from Sudan says that the family was not detained by the government. It is unclear if this report is true. If it is correct, then the family has been kidnaped by a Islamic group with their own agenda.
The account of what happened that is being reported today, claims that the government has detained the family over an issue regarding their travel documents. This is being proclaimed as the official version of events. It is unclear if the family is in prison, or in some form of halfway house, as the accounts differ on this point.
It is my hope and prayer that the family is in official government custody. If they are not, their situation is much more grave. Also, if they are in some sort of official detention then diplomatic channels can be used to secure their freedom. Daniel and his children are legally US citizens, although Meriam is not.
At this point we do not know what is happening. I'm still praying and fasting on their behalf.
Update:
The family is in government custody. They are now facing 7 years in prison for problems with their passports. Meriam Ibrahim was 'kidnapped' and I went to police before she boarded flight to America, her brother says. He still wants her executed and is planning on appealing her release from prison.
I read something earlier today that makes it sound like the story surrounding the guy calling himself her "brother" is on the dodgy side.
ReplyDeleteSad, sad situation. She is very strong in her faith.
Res, I put a comment on your post about the presbyterian church and Who's Christian. I thought it was very important that you see it.
ReplyDeleteSusan,
ReplyDeleteI looked it up. I kinda wish I hadn't.
Isa 5:20-24
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!
Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink,
Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the righteous man!
Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff, So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust;
Because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts,
And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Why doesn't she just sign everything over to this brother in return for being allowed to leave the Country and never to return?
ReplyDeleteBut I guess to an evil minded lofo like this brother only wants blood money, not the clean stuff.
Sounds like she is abandoning her business anyway.
ReplyDeleteShe should sell her interest in it and take the money.
I'll say a prayer for her in the spirit of our Lord. I'll say a prayer for her brother (not) in the spirit of David... if you catch my drift.
ReplyDeleteI think we need to start back with the old time prayers of David, for God to crush the enemies of Christianity.
Do you see anything anti biblical about that, Res?
I could use your help Res if you would help me write one in the spirit of David and I will post it on my blog. I don't want to go off half cocked and do this by myself. My email is in my profile if you are interested.
So I won't be misunderstood, the difference between most Protestant and Catholic prayer is we have occasion prayer. Like most all Roman Catholics say the same prayer at meals for example.
ReplyDelete"Bless us Oh Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ, Our Lord. Amen."
I think when you have numbers of people saying the same prayer at different times and locations it is constantly before the Lord. I would like to develop one for the enemies of Christianity that the Lord would crush them. And let the Lord interpret crush however he wishes.
This update reports they are safely inside the US embassy.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad situation. And very wrong too. What was the outcome??
ReplyDeleteSara @ simpleNewz