UK Minister for Africa appalled by death sentence in Sudan

LONDON, United-Kingdom, May 15, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Mark Simmonds calls upon the Government of Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion and international human rights laws.

Commenting after a pregnant Sudanese mother was sentenced to death for apostasy and to 100 lashes for adultery, Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, said today:

“I am truly appalled that a Sudanese court has sentenced Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag to death for apostasy. This barbaric sentence highlights the stark divide between the practices of the Sudanese courts and the country's International Human Rights obligations.

“I urge the Government of Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion or belief, including one's right to follow the religion or belief of their choice, a right which is enshrined in international human rights law as well as in Sudan's own 2005 Interim Constitution. The UK opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances and urges the Government of Sudan to join what is a clear global trend to abolition.”