(Via ABC)  The baby girl born to a woman sentenced to hang in Sudan for marrying a Christian American citizen met her father for the first time — a moment that was captured in a bittersweet photo.

father and Daughter

Daniel Wani, an American citizen who lives in New Hampshire, held his daughter, Maya, in his arms as she rested peacefully days after being born at a Sudanese prison earlier this week.

The moment of joy was tempered by sorrow because her mother, Meriam Yehya Ibrahim Ishag, has been sentenced to flogging and a death by hanging by a Sudanese court for marrying Wani. The flogging and the death penalty had been delayed until after she gave birth.

daniel wani and meriam yehya ibrahimSudan’s Islamic court considered Ishag a Muslim and did not recognize her marriage to Wani, a Christian. That constituted a crime of adultery and she was sentenced to receive 100 lashes.

The court also found her guilty of apostasy by converting to Christianity and sentenced her to be hanged.

The couple also has a 2-year-old son named Martin and reports state that the boy had been living with his mother in the prison.

Ishag is considered Muslim by Sudan’s courts because her father was Muslim, though she raised by her Christian mother.  (read more)

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