Meriam Ibrahim to be released on bail

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has been informed that Meriam Ibrahim and her family are to be released from police custody on bail today. Mrs Ibrahim and her husband Daniel Wani have been held together with their children, Martin and Maya, at a police station in Khartoum since 24 June.

Earlier today the prosecuting attorney extended the time of detention by 72 hours, after the initial 24-hour investigation window ended without the police concluding their investigation. Mrs Ibrahim’s lawyers successfully appealed the extension, as it violated Sudan’s criminal procedure rules, and the prosecutor accepted that grounds for bail had been established.

The police have charged Mrs Ibrahim with forgery and provision of false information under article 123 and 97 of the 1991 Criminal Code, due to alleged irregularities with her travel documents. Her husband, Daniel Wani, has been charged as an accessory to the alleged offences. The initial accusations were levelled by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), which prompted the police investigation.

The full bail conditions are not yet known, but it is anticipated that they will include the surrender of all travel documentation and will prohibit Mrs Ibrahim and her husband from leaving Sudan.

As part of their investigation, the police have spoken to and received written statements from representatives of the South Sudanese Embassy, who have verified that Mrs Ibrahim’s travel documents were issued by their embassy and that they are legitimate. Furthermore, the family’s lawyers have highlighted the fact that the Sudanese authorities cannot investigate a crime under article 97 which relates to providing false information to a Sudanese official, as opposed to a South Sudanese official.

CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, “We welcome the decision to release Mrs Ibrahim and her family on bail but continue to be deeply concerned about their treatment. Mrs Ibrahim and Mr Wani’s extended detention, despite the provision of credible evidence by relevant officials from the South Sudanese embassy that negates every allegation levelled against them, violates Sudan’s criminal procedures as well as article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Sudan is a signatory. We call for the charges against Mrs Ibrahim and Mr Wani to be dropped and urge the Sudanese government to allow the family to leave the country unhindered.”

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663, email kiri@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.