Meriam Ibrahim: The Case that Gripped the World (BCU)

Meriam Ibrahim: The Case that Gripped the World (BCU)
The Meriam Ibrahim case became major world news in 2014. The case involved a Sudanese woman sentenced to death for apostasy from Islam (for marrying a Christian man) and to 100 lashes for adultery. Whilst shackled in prison, she gave birth to a daughter. In this short course, we will explore some of the many human rights issues involved and also consider the wider issues that the case raises, such as the role of overt and behind the scenes diplomacy and that of the power of the public voice, especially via social media, in bringing about a just resolution.

A 2-week online course open to everyone (MOOC) which discusses four key human rights issues arising from the Meriam Ibrahim case: the death penalty, family rights, freedom of religion and the role of civil society and social media in protecting human rights. There is new material as well as footage from the successful ‘City Talk’ event about the case held in October 2014 which featured:

• The Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns, Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

• Mr Elshareef Ali Mohammed, Sudan legal team on Meriam’s case and Birmingham City University alumnus

• Mr Andrew Hall, Q.C., Doughty Street Chambers, Member of the Bar Human Rights Committee

• Mr Lutz Oette, Lawyer, Redress, Lecturer at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

• Prof Jon Yorke, Birmingham City University

Miss Emily Clarke, Change.org Petitioner for Meriam Ibrahim