Commenting after Meriam Ibrahim, who had previously been sentenced to death for apostasy, boarded a plane leaving Sudan with her family, Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds said:

I am delighted that Meriam Ibrahim has been able to leave the country safely with her family.

I welcome last month’s decision by the appeal court to overturn the barbaric sentence handed down in May. Freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right enshrined in both international human rights law and Sudan’s own 2005 Interim Constitution. I call on the Government of Sudan to reflect on the lessons of Meriam’s case and ensure that this right is upheld for all.

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