Christian persecution — an injustice for all

Daniel Wani and Meriam Ibrahim

By Kim R. Holmes

We are asked every day to show solidarity with women and with racial and ethnic minorities around the world. Yet some of us too easily dismiss discrimination against and even persecution and murder of Christians as merely a “religious” problem that concerns only Christians.

But it’s bigger than that. It’s a human rights crisis that should concern us all.

Consider the case of Dr. Meriam Yehya Ibrahim Ishag in Sudan. News reports state that when she was six years old, her Muslim father abandoned her. Raised by her Orthodox Christian mother, she went to college, graduated from medical school, and married a Christian who reportedly holds U.S. citizenship.

They had one son before Meriam’s brother lodged a complaint of adultery against her on the grounds that her marriage to a non-Muslim isn’t valid. The court later added the charge of apostasy, finding her guilty of abandoning the Muslim religion she never held. Now eight months pregnant (see related article below), she is condemned to 100 lashes for adultery and then death by hanging for apostasy. Imprisoned with her 20-month-old son, whom the courts won’t return to his father, she is scheduled to be executed after she gives birth.