meriam

Meriam may refer to an Indigenous Australian group and related language in the eastern Torres Strait. The Meriam people are concentrated on Murray Island, also known as Mer Island, in the Torres Strait, off the coast of Queensland. They form part of the broader Torres Strait Islander cultural landscape and maintain a distinct heritage that includes traditional music, dance, weaving, and subsistence practices tied to the sea and reef environments.

The Meriam language, or Meriam Mir, is the traditional language of the Meriam people. It is part of the Torres Strait language family and is spoken on Murray Island and nearby islets. Many Meriam people are bilingual, using both Meriam Mir and English in daily life. Efforts to document and revitalize Meriam Mir have involved linguistic research, education programs, and community initiatives.

Murray Island, the primary homeland associated with the Meriam, is the largest island of the Murray Group in the eastern Torres Strait. The island holds cultural and historical significance for the Meriam people and remains central to their ongoing connection to land and sea.

Meriam is also used as a female given name in various cultures. In Arabic-speaking communities it is a transliteration of Mariam/Maryam. A widely cited bearer is Meriam Yehya Ibrahim Ishag (Meriam Ibrahim), a Sudanese woman who attracted international attention in 2014 during a high-profile apostasy case.