Release welcomes acquittal of the Sudan mother sentenced to hang for apostasy but warns Meriam is still at risk from vigilantes.

Release International

Release International is concerned for the safety of Sudanese mother Meriam Ibrahim, who has been acquitted on apostasy and adultery charges after giving birth in jail. Meriam faced the death sentence, and Release, which serves persecuted Christians around the world, fears vigilantes may still try to kill her even though the appeal court has cancelled the charges against her.

Meriam, whose father was a Muslim, was brought up a Christian by her Ethiopian mother. The heavily pregnant 27-year-old doctor was sentenced to death by hanging for allegedly changing her faith. The sentence caused an international uproar.

'We're delighted Meriam has been released, but it should never have come to this,' says Release Chief Executive, Paul Robinson.

'This is a woman who was brought up as a Christian and who married a Christian man. Her father, who left home when she was six, was a Muslim. For that reason alone, her marriage was annulled and she was accused of both apostasy and adultery. She was sentenced to 100 lashes followed by execution by hanging. And was forced to give birth in shackles in her cell. Prime Minister David Cameron has described such treatment as "barbaric, having no place in today's world."'

Sudan's law and constitution are at odds. It is a capital offence for a Muslim to change their faith, while the interim constitution of 2005 states 'every person shall have the right to freedom of creed and worship'. The constitution also forbids religious coercion.

These protections, already contested, could be removed from the forthcoming permanent constitution, which President Omar al-Bashir has declared should be '100 per cent Islamic.' The imposition of sharia (Islamic law) on the Christian and animist south was a factor that led to the secession of South Sudan in 2011.

'Religious coercion - persecution by another name - is already getting worse for Christians in Sudan, despite the constitution,' says Paul Robinson. 'The authorities are becoming more rigid in their enforcement of Islamic law. They have demolished churches and deported Christians. And if it hadn't been for an international outcry, they might have taken the life of this woman.'

'The good news is that the appeal court has overturned the ruling. Release supporters were among those who pressed hard for this and we welcome that decision. The worry now is that militants who believe the courts have gone soft may try to take Meriam's life. It's already been reported that there have been death threats against her lawyers.

'We urge Sudan to continue to protect the religious freedom guaranteed under its interim constitution.Those guarantees must now be firmly enshrined in the forthcoming constitution and in law. And we call on the authorities to do all in their power to protect Meriam and her family.'