Sudanese Christian Meriam Ibrahim's family files new lawsuit to annul her marriage

Meriam Ibrahim and her husband, Daniel Wani

Meriam Ibrahim's family filed another lawsuit against her on Friday in a continued attempt to keep her from leaving Sudan.

The first lawsuit filed earlier this week sought to prove the biological link between Ibrahim and her Muslim father, but the suit was inexplicably dropped by the family. A new lawsuit now seeks to annul Ibrahim's marriage to Christian U.S. citizen Daniel Wani.

Although she was raised by an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian mother, Ibrahim is considered Muslim under Sharia law because that is the faith of her estranged father. She was arrested in January for apostasy and sentenced to 100 lashes and death after her family filed charges against her.

The religious freedom case garnered international attention, and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry condemned her sentence. Britain's foreign office called Ibrahim's sentence "barbaric," and urged Sudanese Charge d'Affaires Bukhari Afandi to overturn her conviction.

The United Nations also condemned her sentence, and tens of thousands of people signed petitions on BeHeardProject.com, GoPetition.com, and other activist websites.

The sentence was overturned on appeal on June 23.

Ibrahim, her husband, and their children, Martin, 21-months-old, and Maya, two-months-old, tried to leave the country the day after the appeal decision, but were arrested at the airport for allegedly possessing false travel documents. It is unclear if charges have been filed in that case.

The family has been living at the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum awaiting a release from the Sudanese government.

An annulment of Wani and Ibrahim's marriage would also mean Martin and Maya are not recognized as Wani's children – something the New Hampshire man feared would happen.

"An illegitimate marriage does not result in legally recognized offspring, which means that my son and the new baby are no longer mine," Wani told CNN in May.

A judge will hear Ibrahim's family's lawsuit on August 4.

News
Over 320,000 people sign petition opposing Macron's '21st century mark' on Notre-Dame
Over 320,000 people sign petition opposing Macron's '21st century mark' on Notre-Dame

Over 323,000 people have signed a petition in opposition to new stained-glass window designs for Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Nicki Minaj says she has rekindled her relationship with God
Nicki Minaj says she has rekindled her relationship with God

Rapper Nicki Minaj opened up about her recently reignited relationship with God and what inspired her to speak out for persecuted Christians, suggesting that her rise in the music industry made it more challenging to maintain the spirituality of her youth. 

Legal action launched challenge to civil service participation in LGBT Pride events
Legal action launched challenge to civil service participation in LGBT Pride events

The Christian Institute has initiated legal proceedings against Keir Starmer in a bid to end civil service participation in controversial Pride marches. 

National Lottery Heritage Fund awards £7.3m to historic churches
National Lottery Heritage Fund awards £7.3m to historic churches

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded more than £7.3 million to help maintain four historic churches.