Asia Bibi: A Case History
Asia Bibi, a Christian wife and mother in Pakistan, was arrested by police on June 19, 2009, and charged with blasphemy after she engaged in a religious discussion with co-workers. Many of the local women, including Asia, worked on the farm of Muslim landowner Muhammad Idrees. Her family was one of only three Christian families in a village of more than 1,500 families. During their work, many of the Muslim women had pressured Asia to renounce Christianity and accept Islam.
On June 19, 2009 there was an intense discussion among the women about their faith. The Muslim women told Asia about Islam, and, according to VOM sources, Asia responded by telling the Muslim women that Jesus is alive. “Our Christ sacrificed His life on the cross for our sins...Our Christ is alive.” She told them. Upon hearing this response, the Muslim women became angry and began to beat Asia. Then some men took her and locked her in a room. They announced from mosque loudspeakers that she would be punished by having her face blackened and being paraded through the village on a donkey.
Local Christians informed the police, who took Asia into protective custody before the Muslims could carry out their plan. Christians urged the police not to file blasphemy charges, but the police claimed they had to go forward because of pressure from local Muslim leaders.
After a lengthy trial, on Nov. 8, 2010, Asia Bibi was sentenced to death by a judge. The judge also fined Asia $1,190 (U.S.) and told her she had seven days to appeal the decision. Her attorneys filed the appeal promptly, and now wait for the Lahore High Court to rule. If the appeal is rejected, Asia would be the first woman to be lawfully executed under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. She remains in prison, waiting to hear the high court’s ruling.
On Jan. 4, 2011 the governor of Punjab province, where Asia lives, was assassinated by a member of his security team. Though a Muslim, Salmaan Taseer had spoken out repeatedly in favor of a pardon for Asia Bibi and for a reexamination of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Governor Taseer also met with Asia in prison. On March 2, 2011, Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian member of Pakistan’s cabinet and another person who had spoken out on behalf of Asia Bibi, was also assassinated for his support of her.
The Voice of the Martyrs has supported Asia Bibi and her family since the time of her arrest. In July, 2011, VOM launched www.CallForMercy.com in an effort to gather 1,000,000 signatures from around the world asking for Asia’s release.
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Over 580 thousand people all over the world have signed a petition asking the Pakistani government to free Asia Bibi, a Christian woman unjustly condemned to death for blasphemy. For the woman the process of appeal before the Lahore High Court has started. The case has become a symbol for the persecution of Christians in Pakistan and the abuse of the blasphemy law.
The online petition was launched by the organization "Voice of Martyrs" (VOM) based in the United States, and is still available on the website www.CallForMercy.com. The organization launched it when a year ago, about 150,000 Christians in Pakistan had started gathering signatures, demanding justice for Asia Bibi and greater protection for religious minorities in Pakistan.
The signatures, VOM refers to Fides, arrived from over 100 countries worldwide and other Christian associations in the five continents, promoted the campaign. The signatures were presented to the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC, but the collection continues, with the aim to reach nearly one million.
According to Pakistani officials, it would be a good thing to let the case go through its legal procedures: the verdict of the Court of Appeals, and also that eventually of the Supreme Court, and finally the possibility of a direct appeal to the President of Pakistan. As sources of Fides note, the NGOs that deal with the woman's case, however, noted that her health is worsening in jail and that "time is running out to save her". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 01/02/2012)
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