Rumors have circulated for some time about the mistreatment of Asia Bibi in jail, and this story reports that she is recovering from a beating at the hands of a Muslim prison guard in October. Irfan Masih, another defendant for "blasphemy," is in the hospital after being stabbed.
Barack Obama should know these names. Hillary Clinton should know them. Their plights, that of Hector Aleem, and others, are as emblematic of all that is wrong with Pakistan as bin Laden's location under the nose of the Pakistani military. "Pakistan Refusing Christmas Day Visits To Jailed Christians," by Stefan J. Bos for BosNewsLife, December 25 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Christian mother of five sentenced to death on charges of "blasphemy" against Islam and over a dozen other Christians held in Pakistani jails spent Christmas Day without their families, after authorities refused requests to allow prison visits, well-informed Christians said.
Asia Bibi, 46, "is spending a third Christmas separated from her family as she awaits an appeal" against plans to execute her by hanging for “blasphemy”, Barnabas Fund, an advocacy group assisting her family, told BosNewsLife.
She is held in the high security District Jail Seikhupura, some 35 kilometers (22 miles) northwest of Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.
Bibi, a farm worker, was detained in June 2009 on charges of defiling the name of Islam's Prophet Mohammad during an argument with Muslim co-workers. She has denied wrongdoing.
She refused to convert to Islam.
"She is being kept in isolation for her own safety, and is able to see her children only twice a year because of the security risk to them."
Bibi herself has been recovering in her Pakistani jail after she was allegedly attacked and beaten unconscious by a Muslim prison officer in October, said the Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC) party earlier. Authorities pledged an investigation.
That helps to explain her fragile condition as described in this interview.
Later, a fellow believer held on blasphemy charges, Irfan Masih, was among others being attacked by Islamists on Tuesday, December 20, in a Kasur City jail, Christians said. He was reportedly seriously injured in the knife attack and was believed to be in a Lahore hospital on Christmas Day.
Despite security risks, Bibi's family "had an emotional reunion on December 13, carefully organized by a Christian couple who run the school that Asia’s daughters attend," Barnabas Fund explained.
"When the incarcerated mother saw her children, she naturally wanted to hug and kiss them but was not initially allowed any contact. The school director pleaded with the jail authorities and obtained permission for the family to meet in a separate room."...
Those punkers in Aceh should write a song titled "Stuck in a Hell-Hole" not only for Asia Bibi (but especially tho)but in reference to all islame-ic hell-holes and their islame-ic arse-holes that inhabit and/or inhibit them..
Thanks for the Christmas wish gravenimage..Hope you got a whole bunch of new art supplies from Santa..You're so good..
Perhaps the problem with Pakistan is not a shortage of democracy, but too much democracy.
I would like to see any evidence that a democratic form of government is stable or functional in any Muslim country. The countries where Christian or other minorities are safe, although certainly not free, are generally ruled by dictators, traditional monarchs, long-term military governments, or a combination.
The US is thoroughly integrated with the Pakistani government. We support their military and, indirectly, their nuclear arms program. This is why they can build nuclear bombs while being unable to feed themselves or rescue their citizens who are devastated by floods.
Democracy presupposed a civilized citizenry, which is why a majority Muslim country will never be able to handle democracy. Pakistan and Afghanistan will likely subside completely into tribal divisions, with no hope whatsoever for non-Muslims or minority Muslims. The best future possible for either country would be for a strong man government to come into being, which would violently and barbariously suppress the fanatic factions, and enforce a non-democratic, but stable peace.
But, such a change should not be encouraged or opposed by the US. Let them find their own optimum form of government.
Having said that, we have no clue as to what would have happened had the US not engineered a coup in Iran in 1953 against a popularly-elected and secular Prime Minister.
Well said, RonaldB.
And further more.....The United States is not the best of good examples of democracy. Not with B. Hussain and his croonies running amuck as they are these days.
God Bless America!
Marisol commented, introducing this story:
"Rumors have circulated for some time about the mistreatment of Asia Bibi in jail, and this story reports that she is recovering from a beating at the hands of a Muslim prison guard in October. Irfan Masih, another defendant for "blasphemy," is in the hospital after being stabbed.
Barack Obama should know these names. Hillary Clinton should know them."
And not only Obama and Clinton, but the heads of state and the foreign ministers of *all* free or relatively-free non-Muslim nations. PM Cameron should be getting letters about Asia Bibi and other persecuted non-Muslims in Pakistan. PM Harper should be getting letters. PM Gillard in Australia should be getting letters. President Sarkozy should be getting letters. And so on. *Every* political leader - and let's not forget the leaders of the main Opposition parties, and anyone who is angling for public office - in the 'free' world should be being reminded, over and over, of the plight of non-Muslims within the lands dominated by Islam. Asia Bibi's case is so appalling, encapsulating upfront so much that is ugly about mainstream sharia Islam, that it can be used as a sort of 'touchstone' or 'typical case'.
And every Christian leader, too - the Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Moderators, all those in positions of authority - need to be hearing about Asia Bibi from those of us who belong to the various Christian traditions.
I think it's got to the point where ordinary Christian citizens, and other lovers of freedom, in the free world - in Australia, America, Canada, the UK, just for starters - need to be organising to sit down at regular intervals outside the Pakistani Embassy or High Commission in their various countries, with great big placards that will inform people about Pakistani's iniquitous 'Blasphemy' law - which is pure sharia, pure Islam in action - and about Asia Bibi and others like her. Put the pressure on.
And it's our job to inform our church leaders, and keep pushing them to go in and beard the Pakistani Ambassador or High Commissioner in his den and let him know, in no uncertain terms, that what Pakistan is doing to Asia Bibi is EVIL, and that we name it as EVIL. No dhimmi flattery, fawning or beatings around the bush. Hit them between the eyes with the truth of what free, decent human beings think about the vile Muslim sense of total entitlement, of Muslim lying, Muslim cruelty, Muslim violations of human rights. That we despise it. That it revolts us. That it's disgusting., and that it should STOP. Loving Muslim human beings does NOT mean loving the evil that they do (the evil that their horrid cult *teaches* them to do, and celebrates and glorifies), or making excuses for it, or pretending they're not doing it, or pretending that it has nothing to do with Islam...when it has EVERYTHING to do with Islam and would not be happening if they were not Muslims.
We need our church leaders to start thinking about and emulating Moses confronting Pharaoh. "Let my people go!" Let's have some old-fashioned laser-focused anger.
The Mohammedan ummah isn't a 'religion'. Frankly, judging by its behaviour overall, it functions like an enormous mafi-style crime 'family' or gang, and should be treated as such.
Muslim guards must really be proud of themselves, beating an unarmed woman confined in one of their hell holes of a prison. She is locked away out of sight and the authorities are hoping that the West will forget her. But we will not, and this is a call to our Congress to cut all support to Pakistan, for they are not a trustworthy ally. Their treatment of a woman who is a prisoner of conscience is appalling. I pray she will be released as a person who deserves mercy, unfortunately something that is not prevalent in Islam. Mr. President, and madam Secretary please use your influence to get her release. To the Pakistani gov't, we are watching and we will keep watching until she is released. No more US dollars until she goes free. To the guard who beat her, please visit the US as soon as possible, for we have a gift for you.
These poor, persecuted people.
God, I hate Islam.