[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 25, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S3962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE PLIGHT OF MERIAM IBRAHIM

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Madam President, the Senator from Texas is on his way 
to the floor to talk about Meriam Ibrahim. He has been regularly joined 
by other Senators, including Senators Ayotte, Rubio, Inhofe, Shaheen, 
and Coons and many others who share my deep concern. Hundreds of 
Tennesseans have written and called my office about this situation.
  I am outraged by this blatant attack on religious freedom, and I join 
my colleagues in demanding that the President and the State Department 
act immediately to help Ms. Ibrahim.
  Meriam found herself in this situation because she was born to a 
Muslim father and an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian mother. Meriam's 
father abandoned the family when Meriam was 6 years old, so she was 
raised as a Christian. Meriam later married Daniel, an American 
citizen, who is also a Christian. The Sudanese Government considers 
Meriam a Muslim, even though she is a devout Christian.
  When Meriam was ordered to renounce her faith, she refused. For that 
crime, the Sudanese Government condemned her to death. She was 
convicted and sentenced to receive 100 lashes and then be hanged. To 
make matters worse, she was pregnant with her daughter when this 
happened. Her son is less than 2 years old and was forced to live in a 
women's prison outside Khartoum, where they were held until Monday. 
Monday we learned Meriam was to be released, but that was a celebration 
that was short-lived because yesterday she and her family were detained 
at the airport.
  President Obama and the State Department should immediately demand 
that the Sudanese Government follow their own court's orders and 
release Meriam and her family. The harassment and targeting of this 
family must stop immediately. The State Department should be prepared 
to act quickly to help them leave Sudan as soon as possible.
  Occasionally we wonder if words spoken on this floor matter, but in 
this case I believe they have. This is an outrageous incident that has 
seared the conscience of Americans and people all over the world. I 
know in Tennessee many families care about it. I wish to thank Senator 
Cruz as well as Senators Ayotte and Rubio and Inhofe and Shaheen and 
Coons--Senators on both sides of the aisle--who have used this forum, 
this tribunal, to talk about the case of Meriam Ibrahim and her plight. 
It is our hope that the attention, the spotlight placed on this matter 
will help her be released and that our administration will continue its 
efforts to register our strong concern.
  I am here to express the feelings of hundreds of Tennesseans but also 
to congratulate Senator Cruz and the other Senators on both sides of 
the aisle who have done such an effective job of letting the world know 
about Meriam Ibrahim and her plight.
  I thank the Chair, and I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Heitkamp). The Senator from Texas.
  Mr. CRUZ. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed 
to speak for 7 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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