Report: Sudanese Woman Condemned to Hang To Go Free

Meriam Ibrahim was sentenced to death after marrying a Christian and converting.

ByABC News
May 31, 2014, 12:57 PM

May 31, 2014— -- A woman sentenced to death for marrying a Christian will be set free, according to a report from the BBC.

Meriem Ibrahim, 27, was sentenced to be flogged and hanged to death in Sudan for marrying a Christian and converting from the Muslim faith to Christianity. Ibrahim's story drew outrage from people across the globe as her story went viral on social media under the "#savemeriam" hashtag and world leaders condemned the harsh sentence.

Ibrahim, who was raised by her Christian mother, was eight months pregnant at the time of her sentence and has since given birth.

The BBC reported today that Sudanese foreign ministry under-secretary Abdullahi Alzareg told the news agency that Ibrahim would be set free. Alzareg reportedly said Sudan guaranteed religious freedom and was committed to protecting Ibrahim.

The U.S. State department did not independently confirm the information.

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The Sudanese court's decision to sentence Ibrahim to death unless she converted, was widely denounced and drew intense media scrutiny. The hashtage #savemeriam was used to raise awareness and encourage people to call and put pressure on the Sudanese government.

Actress Mia Farrow also tweeted out the number for the Sudanese embassy to encourage people to call and voice outrage over the verdict.

Hi #Sudan Gov. In my twitter feed word most used w 'Sudan' is "barbaric". You can change that. #SaveMeriam Stop killing ppl in #Darfur etc

mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) May 30, 2014

The 27-year-old is married to an American, who lives in New Hampshire. Her husband traveled to Sudan this month to try and get the sentence overturned.

In addition to viral messages of support, world leaders weighed in and this week British Prime Minister David Cameron called the treatment of Ibrahim " barbaric" and said it "has no place in today's world."

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair described the case as a "brutal and sickening distortion of faith."

The U.S. condemned Sudan's court ruling earlier this month, with both the State Department and the White House calling on Sudan to uphold its human rights commitments.

ABC News' Colleen Curry and the Associated Press have contributed to this report.

The 27-year-old is married to an American, who lives in New Hampshire. Her husband traveled to Sudan this month to try and get the sentence overturned.

In addition to viral messages of support, world leaders weighed in and this week British Prime Minister David Cameron called the treatment of Ibrahim \" barbaric\" and said it \"has no place in today's world.\"

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair described the case as a \"brutal and sickening distortion of faith.\"

The U.S. condemned Sudan's court ruling earlier this month, with both the State Department and the White House calling on Sudan to uphold its human rights commitments.

ABC News' Colleen Curry and the Associated Press have contributed to this report.

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