Meriam and Her American Family Still Not Free to Leave Sudan as Medical Fears Rise for Baby Maya

Meriam Ibrahim, her American husband, and her young American children, Martin and Maya, remain under the protective care of the U.S. Embassy in Sudan.  They are still not permitted to leave the country.

Now there are fears that Maya, who Meriam was forced to give birth to in prison while shackled in chains, may now be disabled.  Meriam fears that her daughter’s possible disability is directly related to the fact that she gave birth with her legs “chained” together.

Despite this devastating news that makes a bad situation far worse, there is now hope that Maya may be able to walk again, but tests are needed.

As the Christian Post explains:

Sudanese Christian mother Meriam Ibrahim said that her newborn daughter Maya, whom she gave birth to while in prison, will undergo an ultrasound to see if she can walk. Her family is currently staying at the U.S. Embassy in Sudan and hoping to be able to move to America soon.

While previous reports suggested that Maya is physically disabled, The Daily Mail reported on Tuesday that hopes are now that the two-month-old girl will be fine, but the ultrasound will be needed to confirm that she will be able to walk. A doctor who came to the U.S. embassy in Khartoum performed the physical examination.

The publication says that it spoke with Italian journalist and activist Antonella Napoli, who visited Ibrahim's family at the U.S embassy, and revealed that Meriam, her two children, and her husband Daniel Wani, an American citizen, are sleeping in the embassy and are being cared for by staff.

Please continue to keep Maya’s health in your prayers as well as freedom for the entire family.  Maya’s American father is wheelchair bound, suffering from muscular dystrophy.  It would be devastating if Maya too were unable to walk.  This family has already endured so much pain.

Thankfully, in all of this, the reports continue to confirm that Meriam and her family are safe and being cared for in the U.S. Embassy.

While the State Department made many harmful mistakes in the early days of this case as Meriam was suffering with her American children on death row, the fact that the U.S. is providing them care and protection is a positive sign.  Immediately taking Meriam and her American family to the U.S. Embassy and allowing them to remain there was the right move – a good first step.

Now it is incumbent upon the Obama Administration and the State Department to not only allow this persecuted family to stay in the Embassy as long as needed, but exert maximum diplomatic pressure on the government of Sudan to allow this family to safely and quickly leave the country.

Sudan has not freed the family, only allowing them out on bail as false charges related to their travel documents – which the U.S. insist are all in proper order – are brought against this family.  There are also reports that the same radical Islamic “family” members who brought the apostasy charges against her for her Christian faith have now brought a lawsuit against her once again trying to wrongly label her a Muslim.

The fact remains, that Meriam, her husband Daniel, and her American kids Martin and Maya are not free until they are allowed to travel safely to the U.S.  We are hopeful and continue to urge the Obama Administration to do everything within its power to bring them home.  And regardless of how long it takes, the U.S. government must never allow this family to fall back into the hands of the Sudanese government; they must remain in the protective care of America.

Meriam deserves to be free, Daniel deserves to have his family safe, Martin should never again be forced to spend another night unjustly imprisoned, and Maya deserves the best medical care in the U.S.

You can add your voice to the growing chorus of voices demanding this family be allowed to leave Sudan and return home to the U.S. by signing the petition at BeHeardProject.com.