Sudanese Christian Meriam Ibrahim: Newborn Daughter Is Disabled After Prison Childbirth In Shackles

Christian Post ^ | 07/02/2014 | Katherine Webber

[SeekAndFind]

Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese Christian woman who was recently released from prison after facing the death penalty, now says that her newborn daughter is physically disabled after she was forced to give birth in jail while in shackles.

Ibrahim, who is currently trying to leave Sudan after being freed from prison, spoke for the first time about the May 27 birth in a recent interview with The Guardian. At eight months pregnant, Ibrahim had been sentenced to death for apostasy and adultery due to her Christian faith. She was then forced to give birth while shackled in the Omdurman Federal Women's Prison in North Khartoum, Sudan.

Ibrahim, who also has a 21-month-old son, now says that because she was forced to give birth while her legs were shackled, her daughter, Maya, was born in an unconventional position and is now physically disabled. Ibrahim added that it is unclear at Maya's young age if she will need assistance for walking when she grows older.

"I gave birth chained," Ibrahim recalled of the traumatizing birth, adding "Not cuffs – but chains on my legs. I couldn't open my legs so the women had to lift me off the table. I wasn't lying on the table."

When The Guardian asked Ibrahim if she was concerned such conditions would affect the health of her baby, she replied, "Something has happened to the baby," explaining that her daughter had been physically disabled by the birth. "I don't know in the future whether she'll need support to walk or not."

Ibrahim was freed from prison last week after an appeals court found the lower court's death penalty sentence to be unfounded. Ibrahim and her husband, who has dual Sudanese and U.S. citizenship, then traveled to the airport in Khartoum to leave the country and head for the U.S. They were arrested at the airport and accused of using forged travel documents to leave the country, a claim denied by Ibrahim.

Ibrahim and her husband were released from the police station after being questioned, and they have now been forced to stay in Sudan until they get their travel documents in order. Ibrahim was reportedly traveling with South Sudanese travel documents, and the Sudan government claims she needs a Sudan-issued passport to leave the country.

"It's my right to use the papers and have a South Sudanese passport because my husband is a South Sudanese citizen. He has an American passport and South Sudanese passport," Ibrahim told The Guardian, adding "I never forged any papers."

The Christian mother and her family have now reportedly sought refuge somewhere in Khartoum until they can decide on their next move. Ibrahim told CNN that she's "currently in a safe place. It's definitely safe but not comfortable."

Ibrahim was honest in saying that the experiences of the past month have left her unsure of the best decision that will include the least amount of risk for her family. "I can't even decide what I should do right now. I want to travel but at the same time I don't want to travel. But the state I'm in right now means that I'm forced to. There's a new problem every day about me leaving."

Although Sudan claims that Ibrahim cannot leave the country using South Sudan travel documents, the U.S. State Department has said that the Christian woman has all the necessary travel documents to leave the country. "It's up to the government of Sudan to allow her to exit the country," Marie Harf, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, said last week.

[wideawake]

2 Cor 12:9

[Mrs. Don-o]

I posted something about Meriam Ibrahim in my parish newsletter. Every FReeper who has any access to any media, even the humblest -— a church bulletin, a prayer chain, anything, people! -— should be publicizing this situation.

[patriot08]

FREE THE MARINE IN MEXICAN PRISON!

[grania]

For heaven’s sake, why isn’t their an emergency evacuation to get that infant treatment in a US hospital. *crew the Sudanese sick excuse for a civilized gov.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

wrong thread?

[varina davis]

Her captors should have their legs chained together as their private parts are held over a blue flame.

[patriot08]

No. Not the wrong thread.
I’m reminding people that this woman is not the only one being held without cause. (but you wouldn’t know it by the little publicity the poor marine gets- rotting in a filthy Mexican jail for merely making a wrong turn into Mexico)

[Roman_War_Criminal]

I agree that his case needs to be made more public.

We should be praying for all those who are wrongly held!

[Mrs. Don-o]

Here's what I put in the Church newsletter. It's way too short, but I just had a couple of column-inches to work with:

---

Thanks be to God!
Meriam Ibrahim
Death Penalty Overturned

The assaults on religious freedom are worldwide, and far worse in countries which have adopted Shari’a (Islamic) law. Meriam Ibrahim in Sudan had been sentenced to 100 lashes and --- if she survived that --- death by hanging, for the “crime” of converting to Christianity.

Meriam, a 27-year-old mother of two, was raised as a Coptic Christian by her mother; she was received into the Catholic Church in 2011 when he married a Catholic Sudanese man. Six months ago she was imprisoned and sentenced to flogging, to be followed by execution by hanging, for being an “apostate” from Islam. Offered the chance to save her life by becoming a Muslim, she refused.

Human Rights campaigners urged the U.S. State Dept. to press the Sudanese govt. for a reversal and give her asylum in the U.S. Embassy, which is where she is as of June 30. Let us remember to pray for Christians around the globe who face the death penalty simply for being faithful to Jesus Christ.

[Mrs. Don-o]

BTW, Meriam Ibrahim is a doctor, with a degree from Sudan University’s school of medicine. She is a Catholic: raised Ethiopian Coptic Christian, she was received into the Catholic Church before marrying her husband, Daniel Wani, who is a Catholic and an American citizen, in 2011.

As I understand it, both of their children hold American citizenship because their father is an American. Can somebody find out if that is true?

[SeekAndFind]

All true. She is also a successful businesswoman. She had owned several thriving businesses in Khartoum. One a general store in a shopping mall and a retail business selling Ethiopian items as her mother was from there.

according to her husband, Jealous family members got her charged to STEAL her successful business. If Meriam is forced to leave Sudan then her half brother and half sister may well take over the business.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I always thought it would come down to theft by her half-brothers.

What a vile, filthy "religion" would demand you uphold your "honor" by killing your innocent sister. And then steal her property!

[TBP]

Just what Obama and his Islamofascist buddies wanted.

[Biggirl]

BOTH need to be FREED!

[Pajamajan]

I have heard that she a her children are American citizens by marriage to her husband. Why is our country not doing more to get them out?

I see that they are a Catholic family. Why hasn't the Church said/done anything to help them?

Very sad about her baby. Continued prayers being said.

[DisorderOnBorder]

Islam is pure evil...

[Mrs. Don-o]

I am ashamed and angry that this Dr. Meriam Ibrahim’s well-being and liberty have been neglected by powerful men in both the Church and the USA -— who have been exceedingly slow to take an interest in her jaw-droppingly appalling situation.

[chae]

Pope Francis is to busy lauding communists to bother himself with this issue