(CNN) -- The recent ordeal of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, a Sudanese mother and wife of an American citizen -- coupled with Iran's continued imprisonment of Saeed Abedini, also an American citizen and a pastor -- should awaken our conscience to one grim and inescapable fact: The persecution of Christians continues. Charged with leaving Islam to marry a Christian, despite being raised a Christian and remaining one throughout her 27 years, Meriam was sentenced to death last month for apostasy. After an international outcry, she was released, rearrested, and released again, according to the U.S. State Department. In Sudan and Iran, as well as countries like Saudi Arabia, leaders and movements impose their own extreme interpretations of Islam, while restricting the rights of Christians and other religious minorities.
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Robert George: Sudanese mother's ordeal shows Christians still persecuted
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George: It's wrong to think discrimation against Christians just happens in the Mideast
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George: Assaults against Christians transcend regional, ideological, or religious bent
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He says a third of 2 billion Christians live in nations that allow abuse of religious freedom
We must continue to demand respect for that right, so that @placeholder mothers and others can follow the call of conscience and conduct their lives in peace.