My form letter reply from the Sudanese Embassy

Yesterday I received a letter in the post (at my Oxford college) from the Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan to the United Kingdom and Ireland, in reply to my letter to the Sudanese Ambassador out of concern for the case of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim, sentenced to 100 lashes and death by hanging for 'adultery' (sleeping with her husband) and 'apostasy' (continuing in the Christian faith in which she was raised). Not at all personalized, apart from the handwritten envelope. You'd think they would figure out if I'm male or female at least. But the fact that I got a form letter reply suggests that they have received a lot of mail on behalf of Meriam. "We can't interfere with our judiciary system"--as if the country were not rife with corruption. "Our country has freedom of religion" -- but apparently not the freedom to change religion nor (if a Muslim, or supposedly Muslim, female) to marry outside your religion (no restrictions if you're male). Nice touch to point out that Sudan was Christian before much of Europe was (and before the arrival of Islam)--but they probably didn't realize they were sending this to a scholar of early church history! "Muslims must believe in Moses and Jesus" -- ignoring the importance of what one believes about them. Still, the letter attempts to be conciliatory, reassuring, and (of course) diplomatic. Moreover, the fact that they bothered to reply suggests that perhaps the government is paying attention to the international outcry. One can hope.