US Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed concern over the conviction and continued imprisonment of a Christian woman sentenced to death for apostasy in Sudan.
"Meriam Yahya Ibrahim Ishag is the mother of two young children. She and the children should be reunited at home with her family rather than held in prison on charges of apostasy," Kerry said while he appealed to the Sudanese judiciary and government to respect her fundamental right to freedom of religion.
"I also urge Sudan to repeal its laws that are inconsistent with its 2005 Interim Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
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"Such actions would help to demonstrate to the Sudanese people that their government intends to respect their fundamental freedoms and universal human rights," the Secretary of State said.
A Sudanese court in May sentenced Ishag to death by hanging for apostasy - the abandonment of her religious faith - after she married a Christian man.
Sudan's journey has long been a struggle, he said, adding that when he was still a United States Senator, he travelled to the region many times to help find greater understanding and hope for a different kind of future.
"As Secretary, I remain deeply committed to the country and its people. That is one of the reasons we are all so concerned about the travails of Meriam Yahya Ibrahim Ishag," Kerry said.
