Sudan bans Meriam Ibrahim's lawyers from leaving the country

Meriam Ibrahim may be safely living in the United States, but several attorneys who fought for her freedom in Sudan now face new repercussions for their work on her case.

According to Morning Star News (MSN), Sudan banned five lawyers involved with Ibrahim’s case from leaving the country after another attorney, Iman Hassan, complained they had “tarnished the image of Sudan by allowing human rights organizations to put pressure on the government.” The lawyers are not Christians but work against injustice and for the freedom of the country’s religious minorities.

Hassan also argued the lawyers’ licenses should be revoked.

“We have been told to give explanation to the accusations filed against us without being given enough time,” one of the defense attorneys told MSN. “We have no intention to leave the country, but it seems time has come for ‘payback’ for our work on Meriam’s case.”

Cameron Thomas, International Christian Concern’s regional manager for Africa, said even though Sudan freed Ibrahim and she left the country, the attorneys with Justice Center Sudan have taken her case to higher Sudanese courts.

“They are trying to use Meriam as standing to challenge the constitutionality of apostasy laws in Sudan,” Thomas said. During the case, the lawyers faced death threats and hate mail, and even now they still have concerns for their safety.

Thomas called Sudan’s move to confine the lawyers “predictable,” and said it did not especially concern the attorneys, who have no plans to leave. They will continue to fight for the defenseless in their country.

“The lawyers when they took on Meriam’s case were aware of what they would face—threats against their life, harassment—and were prepared to suffer repercussions, even government-sponsored repercussions,” Thomas said.

Thomas suggested the ban shows the government is nervous and is “lashing out to maintain control.”

Ibrahim’s trial and sentence for apostasy brought international scrutiny and pressure that eventually secured her release. In a recent interview with Fox News, Ibrahim spoke about the ordeal and reminded viewers that many others are suffering for their faith.

“It’s my right to follow the religion of my choice,” she told Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly. “I’m not the only one suffering from this problem. There are many Meriams in Sudan and throughout the world. It’s not just me.”

She also detailed the kinds of persecution that happens in Sudan: “With regard to the situation of Christians, this is a well-known fact that they live under difficult circumstances and they are persecuted and treated harshly. They are afraid to say that they are Christians out of fear of persecution. Sometimes in prison, Christians with financial difficulties are told the government will pay off their debts if they convert to Islam. I was never a Muslim. I have always been a Christian. So if you are a Christian and you convert to Islam, it becomes hard to leave Islam because if you do so you will be subjected to the death penalty.”

Ibrahim, who also spoke on Saturday at the Values Voter Summit, said she hopes to become an advocate for Sudanese and African people and for religious freedom.