Research on diversity management focuses on diversity in organizations.

But what does diversity management mean at the country level? More importantly, what should it mean at the country level? Consider the following example.

Meriam Ibrahim, a woman from Sudan who converted from Islam to Christianity, was condemned to death by hanging for apostasy, or desertion of one’s religion and principles (BBC News, 2014; Leins, 2014). In Sudan, the sentence for apostasy is death (Povoledo, 2014). Although Ibrahim was ultimately set free and allowed to leave the country, the sentence was brought about when Ibrahim converted from Islam to Christianity and married a Christian man, Daniel Wani, an American citizen. According to the law of her native country, Ibrahim was a Muslim since her father was a Muslim. Even though Ibrahim explained that her mother was Christian and raised her in the Christian faith, she was considered to be Muslim because of her father’s faith. Muslim women are not allowed to marry men outside the Islamic faith in Sudan (BBC News, 2014; Leins, 2014).

The news of the death sentence sparked an international protest, and diplomats, human rights groups, and members of the public protested the sentencing.

In the end, a court overturned the death sentence, and Ibrahim was released from prison. She had given birth to her second child while being held in prison (Povoledo, 2014).

After being set free, Ibrahim, her husband, and their two children lived in the American Embassy in Sudan until her travel papers were approved for her to travel to the United States. After negotiations between Sudan, the Vatican, and Italy, the family was allowed to visit Italy for a few days before continuing on to the United States. While in Rome, Ibrahim and her family met with Pope Francis (BBC News, 2014; Leins, 2014), where they all received blessings from the Pope. According to Vatican spokesman, the Reverend Federico Lombardi, “The Pope thanked her for her witness to faith.”

He added that Pope Francis wanted the meeting to be a “gesture of support to all who suffer for their faith” (BBC News, 2014; Leins, 2014).

Ibrahim and her family have moved to her husband’s home state of New Hampshire in the United States, where his family was looking forward to their arrival (BBC News, 2014; Leins, 2014).

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you believe that Meriam Ibrahim deserved the death sentence because she left Islam and married a Christian man? Please explain.

2. Do you believe it is appropriate for governments to decide what is morally correct on matters pertaining to religious freedoms? Please explain.

3. Do you believe that governments should have the power to impose the death penalty on citizens who are not behaving according to moral norms of the land? Why?

4. If countries have the right to impose the death penalty for morally objectionable behavior, where does this right end? Who gets to decide what it means to behave in a morally objectionable manner?