SUDAN – A 27-year-old woman sentenced to death last month for converting from Islam to Christianity in Sudan has been freed from prison and sent to a safe house for her own protection.
The case of Meriam Ibrahim, who is married to a Christian American, triggered an international outcry. She gave birth to a baby daughter while in prison.
‘The appeal court ordered the release of Mariam Yahya and the cancellation of the (previous) court ruling,’ Sudan’s SUNA news agency said. The couple’s 20-month-old son was also held in prison with Ms Ibrahim and her newborn daughter.
Her lawyer Shareif Ali Shareif confirmed to MailOnline that she had been released after the court of appeal in Khartoum accepted her appeal and overturned the death sentence.
‘She has been released from prison and she is on her way home with the children,’ he said.
‘She is very happy and the children are fine.
‘Her husband Daniel Wani is overjoyed. He is so happy he is almost crying.’
He added that for now she was staying in Khartoum.
MailOnline has led the way in highlighting the plight of Ms Ibrahim, who was sentenced to death on May 15. After international pressure a government official said on May 31 that Sudanese officials were working to release her.
She was only finally freed this afternoon.  (read more)