ASIA/PAKISTAN - 
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - Asia Bibi is unsafe and in fear for her life, within the walls of the prison in Sheikhupura, where she has been detained for a year and a half. This alarm was raised to Fides by Bibi's family and by the Masihi Foundation which is conducting her legal counsel. Asia Bibi is the first Pakistani woman sentenced to death for blasphemy.
After the announcement of 500,000 rupees that preacher Yousaf Qureshi of Peshawar has placed openly on the scalp of Asia Bibi, her life is in extreme danger, even if at present she should be protected, within the cell where she is serving her sentence. “So it is necessary to continue the campaign for her immediate release and for the abolition of the blasphemy law. It is a key issue for the respect of human rights in Pakistan,” Haroon Barket Masih told Fides, the president of the Masihi Foundation, recalling the UN Human Rights Day, celebrated today, 10 December. The complaint by the Foundation is fully supported by Ansar Burney, renowned Pakistani Muslim intellectual and former Federal Minister for Human Rights in Pakistan. Burney sent a letter to President Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani asking to increase security measures for Asia Bibi and prosecute all those who have invited the militants to kill her. As it says in the letter, a copy of which was sent to Fides, Burney is very concerned that Asia Bibi (or other members of her family) could be killed in custody or during the appeal process. Burney strongly urges the government to stop “the elements that have openly announced their intention to kill her,” thereby committing a crime, and notes that “because of widespread lawlessness and the weakness of the Government, the extremists may very easily carry out summary executions outside the law in the name of Islam.” There are already 33 people, accused of blasphemy, who have been killed in jail or during the process,” records Burney, “as happened to two brothers, Rashid and Sajid Emmanuel, gunned down in front of the court in Faisalabad in July 2010 (see Fides 20 and 21/07/2010). The “Human Rights Commission of Pakistan”, a prestigious local NGO, also remarked in a statement to Fides on the International Day for Human Rights, that “the rise of militancy and religious intolerance is a threat to human rights in the Country.” Asia Bibi's death sentence for blasphemy, the Commission notes, is evidence “of the threats faced by citizens, based on an unjust law, and the selective application of these laws.” Furthermore, putting out an offer for her head, “lacks legal action, incitement to murder notwithstanding.” Meanwhile, a Pakistani Christian, Younis Kushi, supported by civil society, Christian and Muslim associations, has submitted an application to the Supreme Court of Pakistan (the third tier of the courts) asking for the Court to enact a motion, against the death sentence of Asia Bibi and against those responsible for incitement to religious hatred and murder. The appeal points out the steps of the Constitution of Pakistan which affirm the principles of liberty, equality, tolerance and social justice for all citizens and religious minorities. He also cites the Anti-terrorism Act of 1997, in which the State is committed to stop “those who incite religious hatred and cause violence”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/12/2010)
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