KHARTOUM, Sudan — Sudan banned five attorneys from leaving the country in mid-September after another lawyer accused them of tainting the country’s image by defending Meriam Ibrahim, a Christian falsely accused of apostasy, two of the attorneys said.
The move came in response to attorney Iman Hassan submitting a letter of complaint to a Sudan court accusing the defense lawyers of wresting the case from her, Ibrahim’s lawyers said. Hassan also is requesting that the court revoke the licenses of the five lawyers, who are not Christian but support the rights of Christians and other minorities in the country.
“The five attorneys have tarnished the image of Sudan by allowing human right organizations to put pressure on the government,” Hassan wrote in her complaint.
The court in Ibrahim’s case rejected Hassan’s attempt to defend the Christian mother at Ibrahim’s request, the defense attorneys said.
Ibrahim, a mother of two, was sentenced to death after refusing to renounce Christ, but the sentence was revoked June 23 and she was permitted to leave the country July 24.
The defense attorneys said judicial authorities appear to be biased against them. One said he was surprised that the government sought to retaliate for a case that was already closed.
“Who can challenge the government?” he asked.
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