Canada Appalled by Death Sentence Handed to Sudanese Woman

OTTAWA, Canada, May 16, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Andrew Bennett, Canada's Ambassador for Religious Freedom, today issued the following statement:

“Canada is shocked and appalled by the decision to impose a sentence of death for apostasy and of 100 lashes for 'adultery' in the trial of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, a Christian mother expecting her second child.

“Canada calls upon the Government of Sudan to protect freedom of religion, including the right to change one's faith or beliefs and to practise one's faith in peace, a freedom that is enshrined in Sudan's interim constitution of 2005.

“We urge the Sudanese legal authorities to demonstrate justice and compassion in the expected appeal of Ms. Meriam's case, in keeping with their international human rights obligations.”