Plight of Meriam Ibrahim

Floor Speech

Mr. CRUZ. Madam President, I rise today to discuss a heartbreaking tragedy that has focused the attention of people across America and people across the world. I rise today to discuss the plight of Meriam Ibrahim. Meriam is a young wife and a young mother. Meriam has two children. She has a son Martin, who is 20 months old, and she has a newborn baby girl Maya, who was just recently born.

Now, the birth of a little girl should be a cause for celebration. But I am sorry to tell you, Madam President, that Meriam gave birth to Maya while in leg irons in a prison in Sudan.

Meriam is married to a U.S. citizen, Daniel. Her two children are American citizens. Why was Meriam in leg irons in a prison cell in Sudan? She was there because the Government of Sudan had sentenced her to receive 100 lashes and to hang by the neck until dead for the crime of being a Christian.

That is Meriam's only crime in Sudan, and for that crime she was sentenced to be tortured and executed.

Meriam was told by the Government of Sudan that if she would merely renounce Jesus Christ, she would be spared that horrible sentence. But Meriam told her captors that she would not and could not renounce Christ.

All of us value the religious liberty that is protected here in America that is precious to each and every one of us, and yet I would venture, very few, if any of us, have been tested in our faith the way Meriam has.

Now, 2 days ago, we had cause for celebration. Two days ago, the Government of Sudan--responding to the international outcry that this young wife and mother would be tortured and murdered for being a Christian--released Meriam. There were many prayers of thanksgiving 2 days ago.

Yet, Madam President, I am very sorry to tell you that yesterday, while Meriam was at the airport preparing to leave and come to America with her husband and her two little babies, armed thugs came to the airport and seized Meriam. She is back in a prison in Sudan.

This is wrong. This is an outrage. This calls for prayers across this country. And this calls for U.S. leadership.

I would humbly call upon President Obama to speak out for Meriam. There is no one who has a bully pulpit like the President of the United States. This is a case that cries for Presidential leadership. Her husband is an American from New Hampshire. Her babies are Americans. And this is a grotesque example of religious persecution. I would note that this should not be a cause for partisan division. Indeed, in this Chamber, I am pleased to have joined with Senator Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, and Senator Ayotte, a Republican from New Hampshire, in legislation that would provide immediate relief for Meriam to allow her to come to America.

It is my hope this body can operate quickly in a bipartisan, in a unanimous manner, to act on that legislation so we can stand together. I am encouraged that so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have stood and fought for Meriam. We need to speak with one uniform voice.

I hope, in particular--I would urge, in particular--President Obama to stand and add his clear voice, to say to the Government of Sudan: Free Meriam Ibrahim.

I would ask everyone watching this to lift her up in your prayers and to speak out.

Sudan, 2 days ago, responded to the international pressure and released her. Now that they have apparently had a change of heart and forcibly captured her, we need to speak even louder. We need to speak for Meriam Ibrahim because it is wrong for anyone--especially this young wife and mother--to be subject to torture and murder for being a Christian. That is unequivocally wrong, and we need to speak in one voice.

Thank you, Madam President.

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