Sudan woman faces death for apostasy



What the hell is wrong with these Islamic nuts - can't a woman choose her own religion?

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.Sudan woman faces death for apostasyMeriam Yehya Ibrahim Ishag pictured on her wedding day with her husband Meriam Yehya Ibrahim Ishag told the judge: "I am a Christian and I never committed apostasy"
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A Sudanese court has sentenced a woman to hang for apostasy - the abandonment of her religious faith - after she married a Christian man.

Amnesty International condemned the sentence, handed down by a judge in Khartoum, as "appalling and abhorrent".

Local media report the sentence on the woman, who is pregnant, would not be carried out for two years after she had given birth.

Sudan has a majority Muslim population, which is governed by Islamic law.

"We gave you three days to recant but you insist on not returning to Islam. I sentence you to be hanged to death," the judge told the woman, AFP reports.

Western embassies and rights groups had urged Sudan to respect the right of the pregnant woman to choose her religion.

The judge also sentenced the woman to 100 lashes after convicting her of adultery - because her marriage to a Christian man was not valid under Islamic law.

This will reportedly be carried out when she has recovered from giving birth.

Earlier in the hearing, an Islamic cleric spoke with her in a caged dock for about 30 minutes, AFP reports.

Then she calmly told the judge: "I am a Christian and I never committed apostasy."

Rival protesters

Amnesty International said the woman, Meriam Yehya Ibrahim Ishag, was raised as an Orthodox Christian, her mother's religion, because her father, a Muslim, was reportedly absent during her childhood.

In court, the judge addressed her by her Muslim name, Adraf Al-Hadi Mohammed Abdullah.

Protesters outside the court in Khartoum hold banners saying "Meriam has the right to be Christian” and “I have the right to choose any religion” - 15 May 2014 The protesters held banners that called for the right to choose any religion She was convicted of adultery on the grounds that her marriage to a Christian man from South Sudan was void under Sudan's version of Islamic law, which says Muslim women cannot marry non-Muslims.

The woman was originally sentenced to death on Sunday but given until Thursday to return to Islam.

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Analysis
Farouk Chothia

BBC Africa

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is a long-running debate in Islam over whether apostasy is a crime.

Some liberal scholars hold the view that it is not - and back up their argument by citing the Koranic verse which states: "There shall be no compulsion in religion."

Others say apostasy is tantamount to treason - and refer to what Prophet Muhammad said: "It is not permissible to spill the blood of a Muslim except in three [instances]: A life for a life; a married person who commits adultery; and one who forsakes his religion and separates from the community."

The latter is the dominant view in conservative Muslim states such as Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and the cause of much religious tension.

There were small groups of protesters outside the court - both her supporters and those who back the punishment.

About 50 people chanting "No to executing Meriam" were confronted by a smaller group who supported the verdict, but there was no violence.

Amnesty's Sudan researcher Manar Idriss condemned the punishments, saying apostasy and adultery should not be considered crimes.

"The fact that a woman has been sentenced to death for her religious choice, and to flogging for being married to a man of an allegedly different religion is appalling and abhorrent," he said.

The BBC's Osman Mohamed, in Khartoum, says death sentences are rarely carried out in Sudan.

Her lawyers plan an appeal to a higher court to get the sentence overturned.

On Tuesday, the embassies of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands issued a joint statement expressing "deep concern" about the case and urging Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion, AFP says.

The woman was arrested and charged with adultery in August 2013, and the court added the charge of apostasy in February 2014 when she said she was a Christian and not a Muslim, Amnesty said.

The group called for her immediate release.

She is said to be eight months' pregnant.

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More on This Story

So in other words believe in me or I will kill you ....... sounds like a great religion were do I sign up ???

The media says most Muslims are moderate, tolerate, and peace loving. Perhaps they could help.

quote:

Originally posted by xgrunt:
The media says most Muslims are moderate, tolerate, and peace loving. Perhaps they could help.

The media is right.

I personally do not know one single Muslim who is not a moderate, and believes that each individual makes his own choice.

Sadly, that Israeli officer's saying comes to mind when he was talking about the extremists they have to deal with in Israel.

He said "how do you argue with someone who believes he is getting his instructions from God?"

Basically, what is happening in Sudan is very similar to what is happening worldwide today.

Politicians are putting fear into the population, by any means possible.

quote:

Originally posted by xgrunt:
The media says most Muslims are moderate, tolerate, and peace loving. Perhaps they could help.

Well, I would certainly welcome Saeed and Don as neighbors, both and together. (They might opt out, and this is only hypothetical.)
2 cents

My experience is similar to what has been described.

The last Muslim extremists I contacted personally were when I was in college and Iranian students were protesting the Shah. It was "Death to the Shah", "Death to America", "Death to everything." Death was their only option, no in-between. But, they were allowed to live here and go to school here.

Not all of the Iranian students were radicals, however. I would never have survived Calculas if it wasn't for Hassan, another Iranian student. He was a true friend, and questioned the fervour of his compatriots.

Since then, I haven't encountered a Muslim extremist. I'm sure they are out there; I read the news.

But my mechanic's name is Mohammed. He has loaned me his car while he fixed mine. I've hunted with a number of trackers who happen to be Muslim. I don't think we are that different.

Radical beliefs of any supposed faith are dangerous and scary. Look at Jonestown, or Waco.

She has since had the baby (girl), was ordered to breast feed it for two years, receive 100 lashes and then be hanged at the end of the two year feeding period. Her husband has not been allowed to see her or their newborn daughter.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by xgrunt:
The media says most Muslims are moderate, tolerate, and peace loving. Perhaps they could help.

The media is right.

I personally do not know one single Muslim who is not a moderate, and believes that each individual makes his own choice.

Sadly, that Israeli officer's saying comes to mind when he was talking about the extremists they have to deal with in Israel.

He said "how do you argue with someone who believes he is getting his instructions from God?"

Basically, what is happening in Sudan is very similar to what is happening worldwide today.

Politicians are putting fear into the population, by any means possible.

What many of us would like to see is a bit of positive action and a whole lot of public condemnation from moderate Muslims. I do think when good people do nothing. Evil wins.

quote:

What many of us would like to see is a bit of positive action and a whole lot of public condemnation from moderate Muslims.

I really wonder why this doesn't happen? Are they in fear?


.

quote:

Originally posted by xgrunt:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by xgrunt:
The media says most Muslims are moderate, tolerate, and peace loving. Perhaps they could help.

The media is right.

I personally do not know one single Muslim who is not a moderate, and believes that each individual makes his own choice.

Sadly, that Israeli officer's saying comes to mind when he was talking about the extremists they have to deal with in Israel.

He said "how do you argue with someone who believes he is getting his instructions from God?"

Basically, what is happening in Sudan is very similar to what is happening worldwide today.

Politicians are putting fear into the population, by any means possible.

What many of us would like to see is a bit of positive action and a whole lot of public condemnation from moderate Muslims. I do think when good people do nothing. Evil wins.

It actually happens all the time.

In the rare occasions when some idiots spouts any of this extremist bullshit, they get jumped on and silenced here.

Of course, nothing is ever reported about it.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by xgrunt:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by xgrunt:
The media says most Muslims are moderate, tolerate, and peace loving. Perhaps they could help.

The media is right.

I personally do not know one single Muslim who is not a moderate, and believes that each individual makes his own choice.

Sadly, that Israeli officer's saying comes to mind when he was talking about the extremists they have to deal with in Israel.

He said "how do you argue with someone who believes he is getting his instructions from God?"

Basically, what is happening in Sudan is very similar to what is happening worldwide today.

Politicians are putting fear into the population, by any means possible.

What many of us would like to see is a bit of positive action and a whole lot of public condemnation from moderate Muslims. I do think when good people do nothing. Evil wins.

It actually happens all the time.

In the rare occasions when some idiots spouts any of this extremist bullshit, they get jumped on and silenced here.

Of course, nothing is ever reported about it.

Who is the extremist and idiot on this post? Is it the poor woman who faces death at the hands of Muslims or me for pointing out a serious lack of personal resolve from moderates in your religion in cleaning out the trash?

Saeed,

I would ask you to please try and stay on topic here. Can you explain what part of the Islamic Faith requires the death of anyone who does not bow before it?



The moderate muslims seem not to want to confront the extremist/terrorist ones in public.

I am not sure I would either if the penalty were death. The words "religious tolerance/freedom" do not seem to be part of the Koran or Sharia Law.

thank you for the answer,

Rich

Guys- re-read what Saeed posted. I believe he was saying that there ARE moderates in the world of Islam (the "here" to which he refers is UAE and vicinity, not AR) that do their best to put the extreme voices in their place. He is not referring to any of the foregoing posts.

His last point is, just like a good number of positive things here in USA, these action go unreported by mainstream media.

BTW- I thought I saw a report that said she was to be spared, primarily because of an outcry by people of good conscience, Muslim or otherwise.