Pregnant Sudanese woman to be hanged for marrrying a christian

A 27-year-old woman pregnant with her second child was sentenced to death by hanging by a Sudanese court for "leaving Islam" and marrying a Christian man.

The majority of Sudan population are Muslims, and the country is governed by Islamic law according to which her marriage to a Christian is invalid.

The judge addressed the woman, Meriam Yehya Ibrahim Ishag, by her Muslim name Adraf Al-Hadi Mohammed Abdullah. He ruled out she should be hanged after she refused to return to Islam even as she was given three days to reconsider. She was also sentenced to 100 lashes for committing adultery, as her marriage is illegal.

According to local media, the execution will be carried out two years after she gives birth.

She was arrested and charged with adultery in August 2013, after her relative turned her in to the police for marrying a Christian. In February 2014, the court added the charge of apostasy when she said she was a Christian and not a Muslim.

Because of his religious affiliation, Meriam's husband is not allowed to care for their two-year-old child who is currently with his mother in prison.

Amnesty International say the woman was raised by her mother as an Orthodox Christian because her Muslim father was not present during her childhood.

Sudan's Islamist regime introduced Sharia law in 1983 but extreme punishments other than flogging are rare.

-naij