A Sudanese woman who was imprisoned and sentenced to death for converting to Christianity and marrying a Christian man is finally on U.S. soil.
There was an unbelievable welcome for Meriam Ibrahim, who stepped foot in America for the first time Thursday night at the Manchester, New Hampshire, airport with her husband and two small children.
Ibrahim faced the death penalty for refusing to recant her Christian faith, where, by law, Muslim women are prohibited from marrying non-Muslims, and children must follow their father's faith. Born Muslim, Ibrahim was raised as a Christian after her father left when she was just 6 years old. She then married Daniel Wani, a Christian from South Sudan who had U.S. citizenship.
When Ibrahim was arrested and sentenced to death, she was eight months pregnant. The death sentence was eventually overturned in June, but she was imprisoned and blocked from leaving the country for a period of time, giving birth behind bars.
After being freed, Ibrahim met with Pope Francis in Rome before heading to the U.S.
Manchester will be her family's new home. Her husband had previously lived in Manchester, where he has family and where hundreds of Sudanese refugees have settled over the years.
Ibrahim didn't talk to the assembled media Thursday but smiled and hugged supporters.
Her husband, with tears in his eyes, said that it has been a "long journey," that he's tired and that "Meriam is good."
"We are happy today ... We want to welcome Daniel and Meriam home," Rita Lako, a relative of Meriam's husband, said, nearly crying tears of joy.
Gabriel Wani, Meriam's brother-in-law, said, "I'm happy because I've been waiting for that for a long time!"
He says they look forward to settling down and enjoying some rest.
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