Christian Mother Of 5 Sentenced To Death In Pakistan For Blasphemy Asks Pardon

Back in June 2009, a Christian mother of five, living in Pakistan (where 97% of the country is Muslim), was overheard by her neighbors complaining about Islam's prophet, Muhammad.

They reported her to the police and without any actual proof she was sentenced to death under Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law, despite strong opposition from national and international human rights groups.

Ms. Asia Bibi has now spent 9 years in jail for a remark her neighbors allege she said.

The Pakistani blasphemy laws were installed some 40 years ago during the ruling of the military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq. According to activists, they're mostly used for cases that have little to do with blasphemy but instead are settling petty disputes and personal vendettas between neighbors.

Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis are often victimized as a result as they are a minority in Pakistan.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistan&#39;s Blasphemy Laws Persecute the Weakest of the Weak: <a href="https://twitter.com/fispahani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fispahani</a> writes for <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNN</a>: <a href="https://t.co/CiM0h1pWjC">https://t.co/CiM0h1pWjC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaBibi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaBibi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/AmPjknWvrz">pic.twitter.com/AmPjknWvrz</a></p>&mdash; Religious Freedom Institute (@RFInstitute) <a href="https://twitter.com/RFInstitute/status/969772680399515648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Back in 2016, Ms. Bibi's husband wrote to the Pakistani government to ask clemency for his imprisoned wife and sought permission to move her to France, where the Council of Paris has unanimously adopted a proposal to award honorary citizenship to her because of the unjust fight she has faced.

The Pakistani government refused and the Supreme Court will soon rule. If the ruling stands, she could face death by hanging.

Last week, one of Ms. Bibi’s daughters was received by Pope Francis in Rome. The pontiff declared he would do all he can to help her.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In yesterday audience with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PopeFrancis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PopeFrancis</a>, Asia Bibi’s youngest daughter Eisham prayed in Urdu. Speaking to the Pope, Eisham reportedly told him she was bringing her mother’s love to him. <a href="https://t.co/Y3K7mB0Vuo">pic.twitter.com/Y3K7mB0Vuo</a></p>&mdash; Pontif. Academy Life (@PontAcadLife) <a href="https://twitter.com/PontAcadLife/status/967684569465020417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a></blockquote>

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The German newspaper Deutsche Welle, spoke to her lawyer, to ask for an update on the case.

Interviewer: “Is there a chance for a presidential pardon for Asia Bibi?”

Lawyer: “I don't think so. The opposition from a large section of the Pakistani society is so immense that I don't think that Bibi would get a presidential pardon. According to the country's constitution, the president acts on the prime minister's advice, and I don't think any civilian premier in Pakistan can afford to make such a request to the president.”

Source:

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/catholic-and-protestant-churches-in-pakistan-unite-to-demand-justice-for-christians-accused-of-blasphemy/126949.htm