Bashir is disturbing all THE WORLD!!!

US “deeply disturbed” over Sudanese woman’s apostasy death sentence


May 15, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The US government said it is “deeply disturbed” by the sentencing on Thursday of a pregnant Christian Sudanese woman to death by hanging for apostasy after she refused to recant her faith.

A Khartoum court convicted 27-year-old Meriam Yehya Ibrahim, who is in custody with her 20-month-old son and eight months pregnant with her second child, of the charges on 11 May and gave her three days to return to Islam.

The judge in her trial also sentenced Ibrahim to 100 lashes after convicting her of adultery as under Sudan’s Islamic Shari’a law her marriage to a non-Muslim is considered invalid and therefore an adulterous relationship.

In a brief statement issued from Washington on Thursday, deputy department spokesperson Marie Harf said it understood the court sentence can be appealed and urged Sudanese authorities to show compassion.

“We continue to call upon the Government of Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion, a right which is enshrined in Sudan’s own 2005 Interim Constitution, as well as international human rights law,” said Harf.

“We call on the Sudanese legal authorities to approach this case with the compassion that is in keeping with the values of the Sudanese people,” she added.

Sudan Tribune understands that Ibrahim’s husband, Dr Daniel Wani, is a South Sudanese-born US citizen.

Amnesty International said Ibrahim was arrested and charged with adultery in August 2013 after a family member reported her to authorities for committing adultery. The charge of apostasy was later added when Ibrahim, who was raised an Orthodox Christian, told the court that she was not a Muslim.

Human rights groups have condemned the ruling, saying it was in breach of international law, while Amnesty described the sentence as “truly abhorrent”.

It issued a statement saying apostasy and adultery should not be considered criminal acts and calling for Ibrahim’s immediate release.

Her lawyers say they plan to lodge an appeal to a higher court in an attempt to have her sentence overturned.

There have been no known executions for apostasy since the 1991 Sudanese Criminal Code was enacted, although many have had their charges dropped or convictions overturned after recanting their faith.

(ST)

SPLA???

SPLA says ceasefire deal used as pretext to launch attacks on troops


May 14, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan has alleged that a recently signed ceasefire deal is being used as a pretext by rebels to organise attacks on government troop positions, warning there will be consequences.

South Sudanese army (SPLA) spokesperson Col. Philip Aguer says the army has lodged a complaint with monitors from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the East African regional bloc mediating the peace process, following multiple attacks on government positions in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In an address to the heads of foreign missions, Aguer, who was flanked by the minister for foreign affairs, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, said the matter had been brought to the attention of mediators.

“We believe the monitors will be able to monitor the areas where the violations are taking place, he said.

“We will not allow this ceasefire to be used by rebels to continue moving [and] continue attacking our positions,” he added.

On 9 May, South Sudan president Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar recommitted themselves to a January ceasefire deal that has so far failed to halt violence on the ground, signing a fresh peace pact in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, in the presence of mediators.

The signing followed a meeting between the rival leaders brokered by IGAD – their first since political tensions erupted in violence in mid-December last year.

The signing of the agreement had raised hopes for a peaceful resolution to the almost five-month-old conflict, which erupted after political tensions turned violent.

However, despite the renewed agreement violence has continued, with both sides accusing each other of violating its terms.

Earlier this week, Machar’s rebel group also lodged a formal complaint with IGAD over the government’s alleged violations of the newly signed deal.

Following his return from Ethiopia, Kiir said he had instructed soldiers under his command to remain in their current positions and not engage militarily with pro-Machar forces.

However, rebels claim the government retook Unity state capital Bentiu on Monday in violation of the ceasefire deal.

CALLS FOR DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE

Meanwhile, Marial said the attacks on government positions in Unity state and Jonglei’s Ayod county, a military outpost 30km south of Renk in Upper Nile represents lack of commitment to by rebel forces.

“If rebels attacked a town which is not supposed to be under them, it is the right of the government to protect that town, protect its citizens, which is the constitutional authority,” said Marial, referring to towns under government control when the ceasefire came into effect on Saturday.

“This is interpreted as if the two sides are violating and that is why I think it is very important to recognise what the mandate of any government is with regards to running a country,” he said in a briefing to diplomats opened to the press.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to abide by the peace agreement, calling on the UN and the wider international community to pressure rebels to respect the truce.

(ST)

Release of 192 Inmates from Wad-Medani Prison

Khartoum - Chief Justice, Maulana Haider Ahmed decreed release of 192 inmates from Wad-Medani Prison and 10 others from Hassahiesa Prison.

Chief Justice called, during his visit to Wad-Medani Prison, to form a legal department to look at inmates requests in prison. He announced a number of projects that will contribute to the development of services in prison in line with international conventions and human rights organizations.



By Staff Writer, 1 day 13 hours ago