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<p>I am appalled at the death sentence given to Meriam Ibrahim, and her continued
imprisonment. Immediately following her trial, the Minister for Africa, my Hon. Friend,
the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr Simmonds), issued a statement describing her
conviction as barbaric and calling upon the Government of Sudan to respect the right
to freedom of religion and international human rights laws as enshrined in its own
constitution. The Chargé d'Affaires of the Sudanese Embassy in London was summoned
to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 19 May at the request of the Secretary of
State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond
(Yorks) (Mr Hague). The Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State at the Department for
International Development, my Hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Ms
Featherstone), reiterated our demand with the Sudanese Foreign Minister when she met
him on 20 May. Our Embassy in Khartoum attended Meriam Ibrahim's trial, continues
to press the Sudanese authorities for her release and is in close contact with her
defence team.</p><p> </p><p>The UK opposes the death sentence in all circumstances.
We are calling on the Sudanese government to undertake a comprehensive review of its
penal code to ensure its laws reflect both its constitution and international human
rights obligations, and the values and compassion of the Sudanese people.</p><p> </p>
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