News Item: : Meriam Yehya Ibrahim - Safe, Well and Meeting the Holy Father in Rome
(Category: Torch of The Faith News)
Posted by admin
Friday 25 July 2014 - 11:02:51

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It is marvellous to hear that Meriam Yehya Ibrahim and her family are, at last, safe and well. The Italian Deputy Foreign Minister, Lapo Pistelli, had helped to negotiate their departure from Sudan and onward travel to Rome. The family now plan to resettle in the United States of America.

Meriam, her husband Daniel Wani, and their two children Martin and Maya (born in a Sudanese prison a couple of months ago), have been able to meet with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and to receive his blessing.

Miriam had been sentenced by a court in Sudan to 100 lashes and execution for marrying a Christian man and for supposed apostasy from Islam. She was told that she would be spared if she renounced her faith and embraced Islam. Miriam protested that she was always a Christian and refused to renounce her faith in Christ. After prayer from Christians around the world, and protests from Western governments and human-rights groups, Miriam was rumoured to have been freed from prison, re-arrested, and finally released. She tried to leave Sudan some weeks ago, but authorities at the airport questioned her papers. With help from the Italian foreign ministry, she has now left Sudan with her family.

Although the Sudanese government in Khartoum is said to be rethinking its penal code, in relation to 'apostasy' laws, Fides News reported, a few days ago, that Sudan will not permit the construction of any new Christian churches in the country. Let us not forget the countless, unknown Christians who continue to suffer under Islamic oppression in Sudan and in various other nations today.

Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J., head of the Vatican Press Office, said that Pope Francis thanked Miriam for her 'courageous witness to perseverence in the Faith.'

We thank God for Miriam's faithful witness and our readers for their prayers. Keep the Faith! 


This news item is from Torch of The Faith
( http://www.torchofthefaith.com/news.php?extend.732 )