Paul KeenanEmbassy monitoring apostasy case
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has said it is “deeply concerned” at the death sentence handed down to a pregnant woman in Sudan for apostasy from Islam.
Contacted by The Irish Catholic this week, a spokesman for DFAT said: “The Embassy of Ireland to Egypt, which is responsible for Sudan, will continue to monitor [Meriam Ishag’s] case closely.”
Adding that Ireland works closely with EU partners on human rights issues, the DFAT spokesman said “on May 15 the EU issued a clear statement expressing dismay at the sentencing of Mrs Ishag…Sudan has ratified the relevant UN and African Union conventions and thereby has an international obligation to defend and promote freedom of religion.”
Born to a Christian mother and Muslim father, Meriam Ishag was arrested for adultery due to her marriage to a Christian man. Judged by a court to be Muslim by birth, Meriam was given until May 15 to return to Islam. Having failed to do so, she awaits her sentence of 100 lashes and execution, a sentence deferred until the birth of her child.
The embassies of the United States, Canada, Britain and Holland in Sudan have issued a joint communique calling on Sudan to uphold Meriam’s human rights, while Britain summoned the Sudanese ambassador and urged him to prevent his country carrying out what was described as a “barbaric” sentence.