Sudanese Christian woman spared death sentence meets …



Meriam meets Pope Francis after arriving in Italy Published: 25 July 2014 Moment of joyA Sudanese Christian woman whose death sentence for 'renouncing Islam' sparked a global outcry that eventually led to an acquittal, met Pope Francis yesterday after arriving in Italy en route to the United States, reports AFP in Yahoo7.Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag and her family were received by the Pontiff at his home for a 30-minute meeting in which he thanked her for her 'courageous testament of faith' and her 'tenacity,' the Vatican said in a statement.Ishag and her American husband Daniel Wani in turn thanked Francis for the 'great support and comfort' they had taken from 'the Pope's and many other believers' prayers.'The meeting was 'a sign of closeness and solidarity for all those who suffer for their faith, in particular Christians who suffer persecution,' the Vatican added.The 77-year-old Pope gave Ishag rosary beads after an 'affectionate and warm' chat about her plans in the US, where she is expected to fly with her family in a few days time, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said.The family flew into a military airport in Rome early Thursday and were greeted by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife, as well as Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini.'Today is a day of celebration,' Prime Minister Renzi said. COVERAGESudanese Christian woman spared death sentence meets Pope Francis?(Yahoo7)Sudanese Christian mother sentenced to hang for apostasy meets Pope in Vatican?(The Tablet)Pope meets Meriam and thanks her for being a courageous testimony of perseverance in the faith?(Vatican Insider)Meriam meets Pope Francis after arriving in Italy?(The Catholic Herald)Sudanese Christian woman spared death sentence meets Pope FrancisJuly 25, 2014, 12:07 am AFP Sudanese Christian woman spared death sentence meets Pope FrancisRome (AFP) - A Sudanese Christian woman whose death sentence for renouncing Islam sparked a global outcry that eventually led to an acquittal, met Pope Francis on Thursday after arriving in Italy en route to the United States.Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag and her family were received by the Argentine pontiff at his home for a 30-minute meeting in which he thanked her for her "courageous testament of faith" and her "tenacity", the Vatican said in a statement.Ishag and her American husband Daniel Wani in turn thanked Francis for the "great support and comfort" they had taken from "the pope's and many other believers' prayers."The meeting was "a sign of closeness and solidarity for all those who suffer for their faith, in particular Christians who suffer persecution," the Vatican added.The 77-year-old pope gave Ishag rosary beads after an "affectionate and warm" chat about her plans in the US, where she is expected to fly with her family in a few days time, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said.The family flew into a military airport in Rome early Thursday and were greeted by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife, as well as Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini."Today is a day of celebration", Renzi said.Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Lapo Pistelli, who accompanied the family on the flight to Rome, tweeted a photo of the young mother aboard the plane cradling her infant daughter as her toddler son drank from a bottle."Mission accomplished," he wrote.A global outcry erupted in May after Ishag was sentenced under Sharia law to hang for apostasy.Days after her conviction, the 26-year-old gave birth to a second child in prison.Ishag's conviction was overturned in June, but she was immediately rearrested while trying to leave Sudan using what prosecutors claimed were forged documents.Two days later, Ishag was released from prison and she and her family -- including her American husband Daniel Wani and the two infant children -- took refuge in the US embassy.Ishag was born to a Muslim father who abandoned the family, and was raised by her Ethiopian Orthodox Christian mother. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Khartoum says Ishaq joined the Catholic church shortly before she married in 2011.She was convicted under Islamic Sharia law that has been in force in Sudan since 1983, and that says Muslim conversion to another faith is punishable by death.The court had also sentenced her to 100 lashings because under Sharia law it considered her union with her non-Muslim husband to be adultery.Ishag's case raised questions of religious freedom in mostly-Muslim Sudan and sparked vocal protests from Western governments and human rights groups.The case has re-focused attention on a country which has slipped from the international spotlight but where an 11-year-old war continues with millions of people in need of humanitarian aid.Ishag's husband Wani said her family had sought protection at the US embassy because of mounting death threats.Ishag, Wani and their children are being hosted by the Italian government in Rome for a few days before they fly to New York. TABLETSudanese Christian mother sentenced to hang for apostasy meets Pope in Vatican24 July 2014?14:56 by Hannah Roberts in Rome, Abigail Frymann Rouch The Christian mother who was sentenced to death in Sudan for refusing to renounce her faith has been blessed by Pope Francis.?Francis met privately with Meriam Ibrahim, 27,who was facing a death sentence for refusing to convert to Islam, blessing both her and the baby girl she gave birth to in prison, Maya.The Pope commended her “great testimony to faith”.?Mrs Ibrahim, a trained doctor, was sentenced to death for apostasy in May. She was accused by relatives who allegedly wanted to take over her business.?Sudan's interim penal code forbids Muslims from converting to other religions, a crime punishable by death.?She was born to a Sudanese Muslim father and an Ethiopian Orthodox mother. Her father left the family when she was six and she was subsequently brought up Christian by her mother.Under Sharia law in Sudan, Muslim women cannot marry non-Muslim men. Since Mrs Ibrahim’s father was a Muslim, she is considered to be a Muslim, rendering her marriage to Daniel Wani invalid.The court in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, had also ordered Ms Ibrahim be given 100 lashes for having sexual relations with her husband.Amid international outcry Meriam was freed last month, but was initially prevented from leaving the country.Since June 26 she has been staying at the American embassy in Khartoum, until after a year long ordeal today she was flown to Rome on an Italian state aircraft.?The Vatican said Pope Francis had “a very affectionate” meeting with Meriam, her husband Daniel and their two small children, Martin and Maya.?Fr Lombardi said the Pope wanted the meeting to be a "sign of closeness to all those who suffer due to their faith and practice of their faith".The spokesman added: "It's a gesture that goes beyond the meeting and becomes a symbol.”He added: 'The Pope thanked Meriam and her family for their courageous witness and constancy of faith.?Italian Prime Minister Renzi complimented Junior Foreign Minister Lapo Pistelli, who led the Italian Government's negotiations with Khartoum for the family to be allowed to leave Sudan and accompanied them to Italy.?Meeting the family at the airport, Mr Renzi said: "Today is a day of celebration."Mr Pistelli travelled to Sudan yesterday to finalise her release and to accompany Meriam and her family to Rome.After leaving Khartoum he posted a photo of himself with Mrs Ibrahim and her children on his Facebook account with the words "Mission accomplished”.The family is preparing to emigrate to the US. INSIDER07/24/2014?Pope meets Meriam and thanks her for being a courageous testimony of perseverance in the faith(?Lapresse)(?Lapresse) Meriam meets Pope FrancisThe Sudanese Christian woman sentenced to death for apostasy arrived in Rome this morning with the Italian deputy foreign affairs minister Lapo Pistelli. The woman, who was accompanied by her husband and two children thanked Francis for his support. The Vatican spokesman said the meeting was “a sign of closeness and solidarity for all those who suffer for their faith"Iacopo Scaramuzzivatican city Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Isha who was sentenced to death for apostasy in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum and eventually released, was received by Pope Francis for a half an hour meeting in the Vatican, along with her husband, Daniel Wani, her two young children and the Italian deputy foreign affairs minister who escorted her to Rome this morning. She arrived just before 1 pm and left St.Martha's House just before 1:30 pm. The meeting took place in the sitting room where Francis receives guests. The private meeting took place in the presence of Fr. Yoannis Lahzi Gaid, the Egyptian Coptic priest who serves as secretary to the Pope and today assisted as interpreter during the 15 minute meeting. The staff that accompanied Meriam on her journey from Sudan to Italy then joined the meeting. “The Pope thanked Meriam and her family for their courageous testimony of perseverance in the faith,” the Vatican spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi, said in a statement at the end of the meeting. “And Meriam expressed her gratitude to the Pontiff for his support and comfort in prayer.” “Through this encounter the Holy Father has demonstrated his care, attention and prayers for those who suffer for their faith, especially Christians being persecuted or who have limits placed on their religious freedom.” This was a symbolic gesture that went beyond this very touching meeting. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi was at Rome Ciampino airport to greet the 26-year-old woman. The Prime Minister was accompanied by his wife Agnese and the Italian foreign affairs minister, Federica Mogherini. The woman stepped off the plane carrying her youngest, Maya, in her arms. Maya was born on 27 May, when Meriam was still in prison. Mogherini's deputy, Pistelli, carried Meriam's one-year-and-eight-month-old son, Martin and held him even after the meeting with the Pope. Herald- UKMeriam meets Pope Francis after arriving in ItalyBy Staff Reporter on Thursday, 24 July 2014Pope Francis with Meriam Ibrahim and her daughter Below: Pope Francis speaks to Meriam and her family (CNS) Meriam arrives in Rome with her children and Italian deputy Foreign Minister Lapo Pistelli (PA)Meriam Ibrahim, the Christian Sudanese woman who was spared a death sentence for renouncing Islam, has met Pope Francis after arriving in Italy following a diplomatic effort by the the Italian government. According to the Daily Telegraph, the Vatican was also involved in the negotiations. Ms Ibrahim, 27, was flown to Rome’s Ciampino airport with her family and Italy’s deputy minister for foreign affairs, Lapo Pistelli. Italy’s prime minister Matteo Renzi met them at the airport. He said: “Today is a day of celebration.”From the airport Ms Ibrahim and her family were taken to the Pope guesthouse residency, the Domus Sanctae Marthae, in the Vatican. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, told journalists that the encounter in the Pope’s residence was marked by “affection” and “great serenity and joy.”They had “a beautiful conversation,” during which the Pope thanked Ibrahim for “her steadfast witness of faith,” the priest said. ................
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