A Christian woman who faced the death penalty in Sudan has arrived safely in the US state of New Hampshire.
Meriam Ibrahim, along with her husband and two young children, landed last Thursday evening.
Ibrahim’s husband, Daniel Wani, is a US citizen and has relatives in New Hampshire where the family hope to settle.
Asylum
According to the BBC, Wani made an announcement when they arrived at the airport.
He thanked the US government for its strong stance, the New Hampshire politicians who arranged Ibrahim’s asylum and the people of Sudan for their support.
The case of Meriam Ibrahim has met with international outrage, as she was sentenced to 100 lashes and death by hanging after a court ruled she had left Islam and committed adultery by marrying a Christian.
International pressure
Ibrahim gave birth to her second child Maya in prison, while she was already caring for her son Martin.
Following intense international pressure she was released in June, but Sudanese officials prevented her from flying to the US, claiming her travel documents were fake.
Ibrahim and her family then stayed in the US embassy for over a month, before leaving Sudan.
Political leaders
UK political leaders spoke out against Ibrahim’s death sentence in May.
David Cameron said he was “absolutely appalled” by the case, while Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg both described the situation as “abhorrent”.
Ibrahim refused pressure to renounce her faith, declaring in a caged court dock in May: “I am a Christian and I never committed apostasy”.
Persecution
She was raised in her mother’s Orthodox Christian faith – her Muslim father was not present during her upbringing.
Human rights groups welcomed the news that Ibrahim had been able to leave Sudan, but highlighted continuing persecution of Christians in the North African country.