Sudan husband appeals his wife’s death sentence

From The BBC: 

The husband of a woman facing the death penalty in Sudan for abandoning her religious faith has told the BBC he is hopeful an appeal against the sentence for apostasy will be successful.

Daniel Wani said Meriam Ibrahim was well when he saw her on Wednesday a day after she gave birth in prison.

According to Islamic law, she can nurse her baby daughter for two years before the sentence is carried out.

Born to a Muslim father, she married Mr Wani, a Christian, in 2011.

Sudan has a majority Muslim population. Islamic law has been in force there since the 1980s.

Even though Meriam Yehya Ibrahim Ishag, 27, was brought up as an Orthodox Christian, the authorities consider her to be a Muslim.

At her trial earlier in May in the capital, Khartoum, the judge also sentenced her to 100 lashes for adultery because her marriage to a Christian man was not valid under Islamic law.

Mr Wani, who is a US citizen, said he was delighted to see his new daughter – and mother and baby were both doing well.

“It’s very incredible. I’m so happy,” he told the BBC’s Newsday programme.

But he said he was most concerned about his 20-month-old son who has been living with his mother in prison since February.

The judge ruled that Mr Wani was not allowed custody of the boy as the marriage was not valid.

“His attitude has changed a lot,” Mr Wani said of his son.

“He used to be a happy boy. When I went there, he just looked at me. No smile,” he said.

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