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Bonaventure Indian Mission and School delivers over 1.5 million gallons of clean water to these families. You can help support St. Bonaventure's water delivery program by going to stbonaventuremission.org. Millions of people have turned to Claude, the AI assistant from Anthropic, because it just feels different. Where other AIs often sound a little robotic, Claude has been designed with special research that informs its character, meaning that Claude just gets it when it comes to empathy and emotional intelligence.
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Mm-hmm. And we continue with our American stories. Our next story comes to us from a mother of two. Living in Virginia. But it begins Far from there.
Let's take a listen. I am a fan of the United States Miriam Ibrahim. I was born on November Third in nineteen eighty seven. In a refugee camp in the city of Gadarif from Sudan. My mother flee war.
from Ethiopia. when she is ten years old with her uh sister. They lost all of their families and they are the only s survived members of the family. and they settled in a refugee's camp Um When my mom was sixteen, she met with my father and they uh got married. Uh my father originally from Darfur.
The background of the story is that he killed a man. from a different tribe, but the man is is honor killing. 'Kay, the man is in a relationship with my aunt, my father's younger sister.
So my father find out about the them they meet and know each other, so he gets so angry and he went on and killed the man. And when he he came to this far away area just to hide, because the other family are seeking uh revenge.
So That's where he met with my mum. Later, after my youngest sister was born. The situation gets really very bad. I remember lots of the Fight, where she'd been beaten, and when we came, my brother and I went in the middle. To stop the fighting we beat on also So he left And they got divorced.
we decided to move from the refugee camp I always have many questions about my father's family. When we moved to that place, she ch she had to change our last name and everything. Because I didn't know this until later on the time. That's that's what I always question her, like, why you don't want us to know my daddy's family? Why you don't want us to be connected to them?
So and she runs that actually for our protection. Yeah, so we moved to that city and it's actually a lot of Muslims groups in that area.
So I have my youngest brother, his name is Hassan and the youngest sister.
So my brother was totally different than my mom and I because he's extremely Muslim. And then when we moved to the big city, he really fell to the trap of the Imams. My mom was really upset for him. Like, if she ever tried, like, to stop him or do she get immediate get killed.
So she tried her best to convince him. I did try my best, but it didn't help.
So in Sudan and many Muslim countries All students, no matter what your religion, you have to pass those four subjects, Arabic. English. Math and Islamic Studies. Islamic study includes study Agira. Quran and and Sunnah.
Quran, you study Quran, full Quran, okay? You memorize the scripture. Sunnah about the life of Muhammad. And then Agira about the life of the Sahaba and how you're supposed to do marriage in business. They have structure for everything you do.
Even the way, like use the bathroom, marriage, the way you communicate with unbelievers, the way you do a wall, the way you do business with bank account, managing money, everything.
So we have to do that. Like I have all the knowledge about Quran. And then in that situation, I was targeted by my teachers because We are Christian and sitting next to Muslim students and you hear the teacher, you know, say it louder and you have to repeat after her the verses that are saying how to treat the unbeliever and how God will punish them and how they are bad they are, you know, how they go to hell and it was like, I don't want to repeat after her.
So they start like talking to me. No, you have to follow this, you have to say this because Allah said and Muhammad said, and I just don't want it. Like, I don't want it. The same time, when I come home, I tell my mom that, Oh no, don't do that. They're gonna kill you, that's what my mom will say.
And I'm like, I have seen these people always they respond. to the aggressive behaviour of Imams and Muslims and leaders, The response from a religious minority Is that We got to do what they want. to be in peace. Like That this isn't BS weakness, and I always argue with them. Yeah.
So Close to my graduation. I lost my sister first and then few months later my mum passed away. She worked, she had a restaurant on the highway between the Gala city of Galabad. Porder and Gedarif. And one of the things she does, She held There's a lot of human trafficking smuggling in that area.
And one of the things my mom did is when those smugglers bring in those girls, She questioned them, she sees them like nine, ten years old.
So she when she questioned them, she offered them help if she needed help.
So and she went on a report that But The corrupt officers went on and told the smuggler this woman you have to be careful. about this one because She start talking to the girls you guys bring in. Girls and boys.
So I get to know her she was not It was an accident as it was told. It was. Yeah.
So The other now here? My mom died and spend a lot of time with Zenant, I I get to know my my sister in law. She's in a wheelchair and my priest would like You, Miriam, are the only person I would trust.
So That's how we became friends and then I get to know her brother. I get married to him.
So after I have my oldest, my first child, When I my husband left, he he was in he lived in the United States, so he'd come and go to Sudan.
So after our marriage, he le he came to the United States and he left me pregnant with our first child.
So I started my own business. My mom left farming land and she left the house and she left Some saving for me, so I used that and I started business. I sold her restaurant. I did. Very well on that.
And then out of the Sudan, my husband also went back to Sudan at that time. My son was. crawling and then I start receiving this phone call. about family members that are looking for me. And then become from them to police.
Receive a phone call? to go to the police station. Question, this is your family and they want you back and I'm like That's why my mom always Not want of me to connect with you guys.
So and I find out they know where I live and everything. Like why don't you guys come and lock my zoo my door because we know you're living a wrong life.
So what do you mean? Because we know you go to church and you marry to Christian. And I'm holding my son. I told the officer, I have a family of my own now. Why at the That's not family, it's family don't bring their daughter to the police station.
So he said, Nope, this is their family and they want you two back. And they are right, the officer said they are right. Because if you're their daughter, Your father is a Muslim. You're not supposed to be living this life. I said, really?
I mean like, who did they kill? Who did they hurt?
So I'm like building a business is that providing jobs for many people. including even like refugee people in in that area.
So like no, You add um Committing adultery. And you've been listening to Mirian Ibrahim share her story of life in Sudan. Before He came. to America to live in Virginia. When we come back, more of this remarkable story.
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You heard it before many times. Water is life. But do you know that almost half of the homes on the Navajo Reservation do not have clean running water? With your support, St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School is ready to give water to Navajo families.
So we invite you to help provide this precious gift of life to those in need. Contrary to many average Americans, Navajo families survive on just 10 gallons of water per day. You can help support St. Bonaventure's water delivery program by going to stbonaventuremission.org. Millions of people have turned to Claude, the AI assistant from Anthropic, because it just feels different.
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and so many millions of Americans end up at our shores. Suffering from Some type of persecution, religious or otherwise. Let's pick up where we last left off with Miriam and her story. Uh So in September 2013 Going back to court every day, just question who you are. They say their name, Muslim name, and I say my my Christian name, and I say I'm Christian, they say she's Muslim.
So the judge Want me just to say accept what they said And you know, I said, okay, you're Muslim, go to your family. I said, what's going to happen to my children? My child. At the time, I didn't know I was pregnant.
So, my child. We have to go see the orphan? 'Cause he's a little me child. and then you're gonna get flogged a hundred lashes and goes your family. and on Christmas Eve of twenty thirteen, I was sent to jail because I responded like, you know, you can't respond as a girl, as a woman.
You don't dare to open it to look at the judge's face or talk to him. You can do that.
So you just be bowing your head down and covering your face, your hair, and just quiet. Not even breathing like, you know, then even So and before I go to jail I have to go through to do medical tests and then include in pregnancy. And I really wasn't prepared to have a second child at that time. Martin is young, but this trial starts happening and I don't think was a good time. I mean, but Gods have a different walls.
They said, You're pregnant I'm like, What? I'm going to jail. Getting the news that I'm pregnant. I'm supposed to be really happy. I was happy, but like, what?
How? I mean, just, you know, I'm very confused and I'm very upset. I'm freaked out.
So I sent there And these other women, when I walk in, all the face bruises and So sad and horrible situation. I'm holding my son.
So, somehow, Martin was a long day, he just fell asleep, and I just closed my eyes. I thought, let me pray.
Soon all of a sudden I I hear this deep voice You are not alone, and I opened my eyes. I'm like, What did you say? Who you are? Where are you? I'm like.
so the other women in the cell start laughing. And they called the office to say I'm crazy. They put chance on my feet. chance because my crime is in adultery and apostasy now. And is supposed to receive um death sentence for apostasy and hundred lashes for adultery.
But in the sentence Give me three days, the judge.
So I remember on my on the track back from court to prison. I was praying and I was like, Okay, God. Three days. And it's just like, oh. Joanna was in the well for three days.
Jesus was in the tomb for three days. These have to be miracles, are they really? You really have for me. And I'm just waiting for that miracle. We're back again to the end of the trial.
I walk in, I was put up on the cage and there's like fifty officers around the cage, big like kid, and there's bench in there. The Imam came in. And then the judge came in. He asked me to stand up, and he was very angry. Zijat was very angry.
So he he asked me again? I'm gonna ask one more time. Are you Muslim or Christian? And he would say my Islamic name, Abrar. I am a Christian.
And was always Christian. And I'll always be.
So, because a lot of people really can see in their eyes, they want me to say what he said, really, because death, you're gonna die. But they don't see what I select. They don't see What I see like I see fear into his eyes. But that wasn't on me. That's what my heart.
And I do, I do, that moment really felt so. But for him to be in that position and I just remembering that the word Jesus had Say on the cross that and he was crucified. Father, forgive them. for they did not know what they are doing.
So I received my sentence that day. But the end of the s the his world Because you are pregnant, and that was my miracle. Because you are pregnant. You're given two years. You give birth?
A nasty child. I gave birth to Irsen as a child. And then So the child turned two ears it took him to the orphan. And they held an execution.
So my check is involved. That's how the Vatican get involved. And then my husband is a US citizen, my children are a US citizen. The first thing we start ask before we got sent to jail, we we knock the embassy's door and we ask for help. It just happened that they were called into the office.
And it was told to Bring all my items, my stuff. I wasn't even given a chance to say bye to the other inmates and the ladies I know.
So I left prison. From prison I was asked to go find a safe place because my house is no longer a safe place. And US embassy is almost like our cycle city.
So Uh we stayed at the S embassy for a month and then that night just we've been called. Uh I left Sudan. To Italy? I said, uh, they asked what it for one stay in s in Italy and I really wanted to come to the State 'cause That's what I feel. It's my children where they are belong to.
So Yeah, I was told to escape Sudan before during my trial and everything, and I said, no, I'm not going to do that. Like, I'm not. You know, going to do that. That's why I was called crazy. I was called stupid.
I'm not smart. I don't know how to, you know. to play well But It just wasn't easy for me because my faith and my beliefs is not like a jacket or masks I would wear when I'm safe and then take off. It's the way I would live my life, the way I made a decision. that knowing my relationship with God is is not involved.
anyone else. It's between me and him. This is the thing that my mom teaches me always. She's telling me, she's telling me, like, Don't let anyone to put fear into your heart. Because If it does happen, That's how people that's how they control you.
I'm Nino. But fear and come control. With fear come control.
So, and and God said, Don't fear, and I know he I wasn't afraid of the threat of the enemies of their. No matter how they try to Think themselves are big and strong, but I see them weak, I see them terrorous, I see them they use terror, they use fear, but I don't comply with that because None of not my life or my future or anything that is not in their hand, it's in Goddess Han.
So Yeah. I'm here today. I'm in United States. My children, Martin, is nine mon nine years old, from nine months old in prison to nine years old now. My daughter is seven.
They love Jesus. They they go to Catholic school. They serve Martin as an altar server at the church. Maya wants to do music when she gets her first communion. She's gonna get her first communion on May.
So she want to do music ministry? and she loved to sing She do a palette. He do um Martin do basketball. Did you cray? There cop scout I volunteer a lot on the community with the women's shelter.
So they help me with stuff like that. There's a lot of good stuff. And a terrific job on the production and storytelling by Greg. And a special thanks. to Miriam Ibrahim for sharing her story, her family's story.
The book is shackled One Woman's Dramatic Triumph Over Persecution, gender abuse, and a death sentence. and you can get it at your local bookstores. or wherever you buy your books. What a trial scene this is. It's better than anything in the movies that I've seen.
And I'm almost visualizing what this was like for her. to sit there and have to answer, Are you a Muslim or a Christian? In America, we don't do that. George Washington wrote a letter to a synagogue in Rhode Island. assuring them Religious bigotry would not be sanctioned in this country.
And he wrote these words for happily the Government of the United States which gives to bigotry no sanction. persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens. in giving it on all occasions. their effectual support. And those words are true.
It's why, Miriam, brought her family to the United States. A story of religious persecution and in the end, a story of courage and triumph. Miriam Ibrahim's story. Here on Our American Stories. Let's be real.
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