Sudan woman Meriam Ibrahim's new baby daughter photos emerge, brings joy despite looming death sentence

Meriam Yehya IbrahimGabriel Wani/Facebook

First photos of the baby daughter of the Sudanese woman sentenced to death for marrying a Christian man emerged this week.

Meriam Ibrahim delivered baby Maya in the Omdurman Federal Women's Prison in North Khartoum on May 27.

Ibrahim is to be hanged when her daughter is two years old.

On May 15, Ibrahim was sentenced to 100 lashes and death by hanging for marrying a Christian, Daniel Wani, and refusing to renounce her faith. Although she was raised by an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian mother, Ibrahim is considered Muslim because her estranged father was of Islamic faith.

Wani is a biochemical engineer living in Manchester, New Hampshire. He is currently in Sudan fighting for the release of his wife and 20-month-old son, Martin, who is being held in prison.

The father was able to visit his wife and two children yesterday, and photos were captured of the hours-old child. Ibrahim's attorney said that the new baby has brought the family great joy.

"This is a special moment for them. Daniel is delighted that he is able to see his new daughter so soon," Mohaned Mustafa Elnour told the Daily Mail.

"The family are taking some time to enjoy the birth before they return to fighting the injustice of Meriam's sentence."

Wani's brother, Gabriel, said that Daniel was visiting Sudan in June 2013 to secure U.S. admission for Meriam and Martin, when a man claiming to be Meriam's brother filed apostasy charges against her.

"[The alleged brother] went to Meriam's house and wanted to know why she was not a Muslim. He went to the police and accused Daniel of kidnapping his sister—he meant Meriam," Gabriel told The Daily Mail.

"She is psychologically tired," Daniel told Morning Star. "My wife was never a Muslim. As an American citizen, I ask the people and government of the USA to help me."

New Hampshire state senators wrote a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry two weeks ago urging him to secure Ibrahim's release.

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"We request your immediate action and full diplomatic engagement to offer Meriam political asylum and to secure her and her son's safe release," the letter read.

The United Nations also condemned her sentence.

Sudan's Parliament Speaker, Fatih Izz Al-Deen, said the verdict in Ibrahim's case is not final.

Click here for information on how to take action to call for Ibrahim's release immediately.