A pregnant Sudanese woman who was sentenced to death earlier this month for refusing to renounce her Christian faith has given birth in prison.

Twenty-seven-year-old Mariam Yahya Ibrahim, who is also the mother of a 20-month-old son, give birth to a daughter earlier this week. Both children are incarcerated with their mother.

When Ibrahim was convicted of apostasy, she was given four days to abandon her faith.   

Judge Abbas al-Khalifa handed down the death sentence in Khartoum after Ibrahim said to the court, "I am a Christian."  

Ibrahim was born to a Christian mother and a Muslim father. She was brought up as Christian after the father left the family. Under Sudanese law, children of Muslim fathers are considered Muslim.

Legal analysts say, according to strict Sharia law, Ibrahim should be allowed to breast feed her baby for two years before any death sentence is carried out.  

The judge also sentenced Ibrahim to 100 lashes on charges of adultery. Under Sudanese law, marriage between Muslims and non-Muslims is not permitted, and any such union is considered adultery.

Ibrahim's husband, Daniel Wani, is a Christian.  He was not allowed to visit his wife and children on the day of the daughter's birth, but did see his family a few days afterwards.  He says they are all doing well.

An appeal has been filed against the verdict.

The U.S. State Department said the United States is deeply disturbed by the court ruling and called on the government of Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said the treatment of Ibrahim has "no place in today's world."  

Amnesty International has condemned the court ruling, calling it "abhorrent" and a flagrant breach of international human rights law.  The rights group called for Ibrahim's immediate and unconditional release.

Sudanese Information Minister Ahmed Bilal told VOA's South Sudan in Focus that Ibrahim's sentence is not final. He also said she should have been given more time to decide whether she wanted to convert to Islam.

Sudan's 2005 constitution guarantees the right to freedom of worship. But in practice, the government enforces a form of Islamic law. [Read More]

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Source: VOA News: War and Conflict