Meriam Ibrahim Released from Detention; Charged with Attempting to Travel on False Documents
KHARTOUM, SUDAN (Worthy News)– Meriam Ibrahim, a Sudanese woman who was formerly charged with adultery and apostasy, has been released from detention in Khartoum after being rearrested on Tuesday. However, she faces new charges of attempting to travel on false documents punishable by up to five years in prison.
She was released from prison along with her 22-month-old son and 4-week-old daughter on Monday. However, she was rearrested again as she tried to board a plane at Khartoum airport with her family.
“The airport passport police arrested Abrar after she presented emergency travel documents issued by the South Sudanese embassy and carrying an American visa,” Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services’ said on Facebook, referring to Ibrahim by her Muslim name.
“The Sudanese authorities considered (the action) a criminal violation, and the Foreign Ministry summoned the American and South Sudanese ambassadors,” it added.
Under Sudan’s penal code, forging a document is punishable by up to five years in prison.
“Now the prosecutor decided to let her go home by a guarantee,” one of her lawyers, Mohanad Mustafa, told Agence France-Presse. However, it was unclear whether Ibrahim would be traveling to the United States anytime soon.
“There is a criminal case against her. She cannot leave Sudan,” he added.
An American embassy car was seen outside the police station in Khartoum, the Telegraph reported.