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Meriam Ibrahim Encourages Naghmeh Abedini to Stay Strong for Her Children

  • Carrie Dedrick Religious persecution, missions, Christianity around the world
  • Updated Sep 29, 2014

Meriam Ibrahim was presented with Cost of Discipleship award at the Values Voter Summit Gala on Saturday (Sept. 27); the award given by the Family Research Council is the first of its kind. When Ibrahim accepted the award, she had a message for Naghmeh Abedini, wife of imprisoned pastor Saeed Abedini. 

Ibrahim said, "Do not fear; be strong. Take care of your kids and the Lord will be with you.”

Ibrahim described the difficulty that she endured while wrongfully imprisoned in Sudan for apostasy. She said that her husband, Sudanese-American Daniel Wani was permitted to visit his wife and young son in the prison, but only for 10-minute visits. 

"That was the most difficult time for me because Martin would want to go with him and grab on to him and I would stand there unable to do anything because he's a child,” Ibrahim said. “He didn't understand why he was in jail through no fault of his. He didn't understand why kids were able to play outside and enjoy themselves and be with their parents, their fathers and mothers.” 

Ibrahim told her son, "Do not be sad; you must be proud of your mother. I am not a criminal. The Lord is with us."

Ibrahim now says that she plans to campaign for others who have been persecuted for their faith

Publication date: September 29, 2014