Sudanese woman re-arrested a day after release from death row

A Sudanese woman who was sentenced to death last month for converting from Islam to Christianity has been re-arrested just a day after being released from prison.

Sudanese authorities re-arrested Mariam Yahya Ibrahim today, and detained her and her family as they tried to board a plane in Khartoum, a security source and her lawyer said.

Ms Ibrahim (27), who received a death sentence last month, was released on yesterday after what the government said was unprecedented international pressure.

The security official said he did know the reason for the re-arrest. One of Ms Ibrahim’s lawyers said she was being held at a security building outside the airport with her husband and two children.

Ms Ibrahim was freed by an appeal court yesterday which cancelled her death sentence. She was then sent to a secret location for her protection after her family reported receiving threats.

Her release was welcomed by human rights groups and Western governments that had voiced outrage at the death sentence.

Reuters