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Sudanese woman sentenced to death in Sudan arrives in Italy, which helped secure her release

Associated Press
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Meriam Ibrahim, from Sudan, disembarks with her children Maya, in her arms, and Martin, accompanied by Italian deputy Foreign Minister Lapo Pistelli, after landing from Khartoum, at Ciampino's military airport, on the outskirts of Rome, Thursday, July 24, 2014. The Sudanese woman who was sentenced to death in Sudan for refusing to recant her Christian faith has arrived in Italy along with her family, including an infant born in prison. An Italian diplomat who accompanied the family from Sudan said Italy leveraged its historic ties within the Horn of Africa region to help win her release. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca) (The Associated Press)

Meriam Ibrahim, from Sudan, right, holds her baby girl Maya, accompanied by Italian deputy Foreign Miinister Lapo Pistelli, holding her son Martin, followed by Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, second from right, Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, second from left, and his wife Agnese Landini, after landing from Khartoum, at Ciampino's military airport, on the outskirts of Rome, Thursday, July 24, 2014. The Sudanese woman who was sentenced to death in Sudan for refusing to recant her Christian faith has arrived in Italy along with her family, including an infant born in prison. An Italian diplomat who accompanied the family from Sudan said Italy leveraged its historic ties within the Horn of Africa region to help win her release. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca) (The Associated Press)

A Sudanese woman who was sentenced to death in Sudan for refusing to recant her Christian faith has arrived in Italy along with her family, including an infant born in prison.

Italy's premier welcomed Meriam Ibrahim at Rome's Ciampino airport on Thursday, calling it "a day of celebration."

Ibrahim, whose father was Muslim but whose mother was an Orthodox Christian from Ethiopia, was accompanied by her husband, who is a citizen of both the United States and South Sudan, her 18-month-old son and an infant born May 27. The family is to spend a few days in Rome before heading to the United States.

An Italian diplomat who accompanied the family from Sudan said Italy leveraged its historic ties within the Horn of Africa region to help win her release.