A Sudanese woman who had been sentenced to death for apostasy has had her sentence canceled and is set to be released, the country's official news agency has reported.
SUNA said Khartoum's Court of Cassation canceled the death sentence against Meriam Ibrahim after a robust defence was presented by her lawyers. "The appeal court ordered the release of Meriam Yahya and the cancellation of the (previous) court ruling," it said.
Ibrahim's lawyer, Elshareef Mohammed, told the Guardian he heard the release announced on Sudanese radio but had no confirmation.
The 27-year-old, was pregnant when she was sentenced to hang, and gave birth to a daughter while shackled in her cell.
Ibrahim (pictured here with husband Wani) gave birth to baby Maya in a Sudanese prison
Daniel Wani meets his daughter for the first time
Ibrahim, who also has an 18-month-old son in prison with her, was raised a Christian by her mother and has refused to renounce the faith. However, a court ruled earlier this month that she is Muslim because that was her father's faith.
Her Christian marriage was annulled and she was sentenced to 100 lashes for adultery and death by hanging for renouncing Islam. Sex outside a "lawful relationship" is regarded as adultery under Sudanese law.
Ibrahim's husband Daniel Wani said his wife had been under pressure to convert her religion so she can leave prison but said she was "committed" to her right to religious freedom.