Release International calls for Christian woman facing death sentence
in Pakistan to be set free and for blasphemy laws to be repealed
It's a year since illiterate farm labourer Asia Bibi became the
first woman in Pakistan to be sentenced to death under the country's
notorious blasphemy laws. Since then, Asia has been confined to a tiny
cell near Lahore, not knowing what will claim her life - the noose, or
the militants who have threatened to kill her.
One cleric
has offered a reward of 500,000 rupees - about £4,000 - for the
person who puts her to death. Extremists have threatened to blow her
up in prison, and her husband and children have been forced to go into
hiding. Asia is in her mid-40s.
'Pakistan must set Asia
Bibi free and protect her life from vigilantes,' says Andy Dipper, the
CEO of Release International, a ministry to the persecuted church.
'And Pakistan must repeal this terrible law that has been used like a
weapon to target Christians and other innocent people.'
Asia Bibi is a victim of Pakistan's blasphemy code, which was
revived to implement sharia law in the Islamic republic. The
accusation of blasphemy alone has been used to settle scores and to
take out commercial rivals, imprisoning them or making them prey to
vigilantes.
Politicians who oppose the laws have been
murdered. The governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, was killed in January
by his own bodyguard for calling for Asia's release and for the repeal
of the blasphemy laws. And within two months the minister of religious
minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian, was assassinated for the same
reason.
Asia Bibi found herself accused of blasphemy
after a dispute with her Muslim co-workers. Some of the women had been
putting her under pressure to renounce her Christian faith and accept
Islam. Asia responded by sharing her faith in Christ.
Asia
was then beaten and threatened by a mob before being taken into
protective custody. On June 14 2009 she was accused of uttering
blasphemies against the prophet Mohammed - a charge Asia has always
denied - and in November 2010 she was sentenced to death.
She has appealed against execution. If the High Court upholds the
death sentence Asia Bibi will be the first woman in Pakistan to be
legally killed for blasphemy.
'In previous cases, the
death sentence has not been carried out,' said Andy Dipper of Release
International, 'but this could well mean a life sentence for Asia in
appalling conditions.' She is currently held in isolation in a secure
cell.
Release International has called for an end to the
blasphemy laws and this year presented a 51,000-name petition to the
Pakistan High Commissioner in London calling for religious freedom. Mr
Wajid Shamsul Hasan said, 'We share your concerns, and we will do our
utmost in the best possible way to provide security for the minorities
and to alleviate their sufferings.'
'Please pray for Asia
Bibi,' said Andy Dipper. 'Pray that God will comfort and strengthen
her. And pray that Pakistan will put an end to these deeply unjust
blasphemy laws that have been used to target Christians and others in
acts of revenge.'
Release partners VOM-USA have created an
online petition to free Asia Bibi. Since its launch in August, it has
been signed by more than 300,000 people. It can be signed online at www.CallForMercy.com.
Thursday 17th November 2011
Release International
About Release International
Through its international network of missions Release serves persecuted Christians in more than 30 countries, by supporting pastors and Christian prisoners, and their families; supplying Christian literature and Bibles; and working for justice.
View all articles by Release International
View all articles by Release International
Reader Comments
The opinions expressed in the Reader Comments are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms.
I've been wondering what's been going on with Asia. It's a tough situation. If she's released (apart from a miracle) it looks like she'll be killed anyway. So must be praying. Thank you for the reminder.