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Pakistan: Christian sentenced to death for blasphemy files last-ditch appeal

Nov 25, 2014 8:35 am By Robert Spencer

Asia-BibiIn a sane society, Asia Bibi’s story would be front-page news, with Presidents, Prime Ministers and Popes appealing for her release, the United Nations condemning Pakistan, and all foreign aid halted until she was released and blasphemy laws repealed. Instead, the world “human rights community” looks the other way and devotes its energies to hunting for examples of “Islamophobia.”

“Christian sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan begs supporters ‘please don’t abandon me’ as she makes final appeal against her sentence,” Daily Mail, November 25, 2014:

A Christian woman on death row in Pakistan for blasphemy has filed a last-ditch legal challenge to her conviction for insulting the Prophet Mohammed four years ago.

A high court in the eastern city of Lahore confirmed the death sentence of Asia Bibi last month, dashing hopes the conviction might be overturned or commuted to a jail term.

It comes after she made an impassioned plea to supporters in an open letter.

‘You are my only hope of staying alive in this dungeon, so please don’t abandon me,’ she said. ‘I did not commit blasphemy.’

Bibi, a 50-year-old mother-of-five, has been on death row since November 2010 after she was convicted of insulting Mohammed during a row with Muslim co-workers over a bowl of water.

Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in majority Muslim Pakistan country, with even unproven allegations often prompting mob violence.

Bibi’s defence attorney Saiful Malook told AFP yesterday he had filed an appeal on her behalf to the Supreme Court.

He said that in the petition his client has asked the court to reconsider deficiencies in the case including allegedly manipulated evidence and a delay between the time of the incident and its investigation by police.

Mr Malook added that the blasphemy allegation was concocted by Bibi’s enemies to target her and had no basis in fact.

‘We expect an early hearing of the appeal and hope that the proceedings will be over in one year,’ he added.

The legal challenge is in addition to a personal plea from Bibi’s husband Ashiq Masih to Pakistan’s President Mamnoon Hussain asking for her to be pardoned and allowed to move to France.

‘We are convinced that Asia will only be saved from being hanged if the venerable President (Mamnoon) Hussain grants her a pardon. No one should be killed for drinking a glass of water,’ he wrote in the New York Times.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has said the couple are welcomed in the city, and Masih quoted his wife as saying she sent her ‘deepest thanks to you Madame Mayor, and to all the kind people of Paris and across the world’.

Bibi’s message from jail read: ‘My prison cell has no windows and day and night are the same to me, but if I am still holding on today it is thanks to everyone who is trying to help me. When my husbnd [sic] showed me the photographs of people I have never met drinking a glass of water for me, my heart overflowed.

‘Ashiq told me that the city of Paris is offering to welcome our family. I send my deepest thanks to you Madam Mayor, and to all the kind people of Paris and across the world.

‘You are my only hope of staying alive in this dungeon, so please don’t abandon me. I did not commit blasphemy.’

Mr Masih, 50, lives in hiding with two of his five children and has to keep his identity secret as he scrapes together a living as a daily labourer.

He visits his wife once a month, making a five and a half hour journey to her jail in Multan in southern Punjab.

The allegations against Bibi date back to June 2009, when she was labouring in a field and a row broke out with some Muslim women she was working with.

She was asked to fetch water, but the Muslim women objected, saying that as a non-Muslim she was unfit to touch the water bowl.

A few days later the women went to a local cleric and put forward the blasphemy allegations….

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Filed Under: blasphemy, Muslim persecution of Christians, Pakistan Tagged With: featured


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Comments

  1. sidney penny says

    Nov 25, 2014 at 8:39 am

    Can Malala help?

    • Finn says

      Nov 26, 2014 at 9:17 am

      FREE THIS WOMAN!!!!!
      YOU’RE THE BLASPHEMERS!!!

  2. john spielman says

    Nov 25, 2014 at 8:48 am

    that someone would even be considered for “blasphemy charges” is an affront to freedom of religion and speesch every where because what is balsphemy for you may ne orthodox belief for me! Take muhammed -pbuh*and islam. muhammed-pbuh* and islam says that Jesus is NOT the ONLY SON OF GOD yet that is trhe very basis of Christian belief. This is more proof that islam is a fascist belief system that allows and encourages violence against unbeievers. According to the Bible, islam is a doctirne of Satan and muhammed nothing more than a demon possesed false prophet and mass murderer, thie , liar , and pedophile! pbuh* PERPETUAL BANISHMENT UNTO HELL!

    • Salah says

      Nov 25, 2014 at 11:30 am

      “..Islam is a doctrine of Satan and Muhammed nothing more than a demon possessed false prophet..”

      Amen to that.

      http://crossmuslims.blogspot.com/2011/10/muhammad-and-satan_24.html

    • Laura says

      Nov 26, 2014 at 9:13 am

      So why the sycophantic show of respect for the ‘prophet.’

  3. Georges Mansard says

    Nov 25, 2014 at 8:49 am

    The real issue isn’t whether she committed blasphemy, it’s that blasphemy laws themselves are violations of human rights and have no place in a modern world. But in Asia’s case that doesn’t matter, it’s something that Pakistani culture (or Muslim society in general) is not capable of addressing at this time (if ever). All she can hope for is to be released on appeal.

    • Hugh Vincelette says

      Nov 26, 2014 at 10:13 am

      No state; secular or religious; has the right to punish theological differences of opinion. It is an abrogation of logic, liberty, & human decency. That Pakistan has such laws on the books begs the question: why do we do business with them? The fact that they have nuclear weapons may be less significant with our close friendship with India.

  4. Jay Boo says

    Nov 25, 2014 at 9:24 am

    If the New York times threatened to publish all of Islam’s embarrassing secrets to the world if this goes ahead every Muslim (so called moderate Muslim) organization would be on the jihad hotline to their buddy’s in Pakistan.

  5. salamander says

    Nov 25, 2014 at 10:19 am

    Sydney, Malala may have been able to help in the form of a bribe, alas she has given most of her cash to weapon stores for Hamas, oh, sorry I actually meant to say for the re-building of schools in Gaza.

  6. Jeff says

    Nov 25, 2014 at 11:49 am

    Why hasn’t our government done anything to free Asia and those like her from the injustices they suffer in Pakistan?

  7. Darren says

    Nov 25, 2014 at 11:54 am

    I’ve been following this case for awhile, really sickening that the Christian communities are more interested in interfaith dialog instead of banding together and speaking as one voice trying to save this women. What do we do when our supposed leaders in all aspects of society have joined the Dhimmi ranks? The few people who try telling the truth are labeled extremists and in many Eurostanian countries thrown in jail for hate speech. Even as thousands of U.S troops lie in the grave and tens of thousands more are wounded we still won’t name the enemy. What will it take for the world to name the enemy? I’m not affiliated with any movement or religious group, but can you people who are try getting your religious leaders to do something. Yet Pakistan still gets billions in foreign aid each year. I just don’t understand, it’s like the entire world has gone mad, and I’m Alice sitting at the Mad Hatters tea party scratching my head wondering where the hell I am.

    • deja vu says

      Nov 25, 2014 at 2:12 pm

      …..really sickening that the Christian communities are more interested in interfaith dialog instead of banding together and speaking as one voice trying to save this women.
      —————————————————————————————————————————-
      Darren, it’s only the appeasers in the high-profile mainline denominations that have sought interfaith dialogue. In doing so they fly in the face of Biblical Christianity and of Jesus Christ Himself.

      Far greater are the numbers of churches and individuals who are deeply involved in trying to get the Blasphemy Law repealed, and prisoners like Asia set free. As you will know, in Pakistan anyone who defends a Christian risks being shot on sight, and two have lost their lives already. The court system is completely corrupt as is much else in Pakistan. At Asia’s recent last ditch appeal in Lahore, the court was stacked with more than 20 hardline mullahs eyeballing the bench, with a lynch mob numbering thousands outside. Had the judge acquitted her he would have been signing his own death warrant.

      There are many many Christian agencies invovled with the persecuted church: Barnabas Fund, Voice of the Martyrs, Open Doors, Release International, not to mention locally based agencies such as Elam in Iran. Of necessity they work secretly with the underground church, but there is more going on than most people know. Have a look at this moving video to be inspired and moved. It’s fairly long but worth watching and features Pakistan.

      http://www.god.tv/documentaries/video/documentaries/freedom-fighter

      • Darren says

        Nov 26, 2014 at 11:20 am

        At this stage of the game, I think it is going to require political pressure of some form or another, have the agreement also state she will leave the country for good. Some western country will take her and her family in. I may say some borderline extreme things at times, but this is one of the reasons I do, stories like this really anger me. If there is a god and he is the Christian one, there will be a special place in hell for the fake leaders inside the Christian community who simply profit from their relationship with Christianity. All of those TV preachers, or the ones driving the nice cars and wearing a Rolex. I hate to say it but the leadership in the Christian and Catholic communities is quite bad. It’s not just religious leaders though at every level of western society our leadership is terrible. Everyday more and more western civ is reminding me of the Galactic Empire in the Foundation series.

    • Alissa says

      Nov 25, 2014 at 3:40 pm

      I completely agree with you…where are they??? Billy Graham wrote a book years ago warning us; his daughter has been quite vocal recently but there is no united cohesive effort with the Christian faith as a whole. Joel Osteen…says nothing; Charles Stanley, Joyce Meyer…nothing. They are all setting a terrible example.

      • deja vu says

        Nov 25, 2014 at 9:11 pm

        Since when have TV evangelists been willing to step out of their comfort zone, keeping the sheep stupified and themselves enriched? They want to keep their viewers happy! happy! happy! God wants you rich! Life is just one big praise party!

        Oh no, the plight of the persecuted is so *negative* – can’t have that spoiling the show. People might turn their TVs off and our ratings will suffer which could affect our book sales.

        As I’ve mentioned before, I believe the Lord is sifting His people and many are falling through the mesh. How many will be left when the mesh is at its narrowest? The remnant, those tried by fire and found faithful.

  8. Manuel Paleologus says

    Nov 25, 2014 at 4:23 pm

    What America is doing for this true Christian woman? Nothing.
    Where is musobama hiding in the WH. If she would be from Ferguson or Chicago, Obama would have a press conference.
    Beside the prayers we should allert our local representatives.

    Shame for DC for not defending our Christians persecuted by the Muslims.

  9. KiwiKaffir says

    Nov 25, 2014 at 4:59 pm

    Christy, once again you are talking through a hole in your head.

  10. Islamisdeath says

    Nov 25, 2014 at 5:08 pm

    I second that emotion!

  11. Islamisdeath says

    Nov 25, 2014 at 5:14 pm

    Islam IS the threat. Only islam instructs its members via the book of hate to kill all non believers, non believers in islam that is.

    Whata load of tripe you write “Christy”

    • deja vu says

      Nov 25, 2014 at 7:26 pm

      @ islamisdeath

      She doesn’t ‘write’, she has nothing to contribute. Instead, she copies and pastes this article at every opportunity just to see what reaction she gets.

      Best ignored.

  12. Mirren10 says

    Nov 25, 2014 at 5:15 pm

    I have spent the greater part of today writing letters to camoron, miliband, may, my own MP, Farage, et al, highlighting this poor woman’s plight, and demanding they take a stand.

    What I would like to know, is *why* the case of Meriam Ibrahim received such an enormous amount of publicity, resulting in her being released from the Sudan, and Asia Bibi is simply relegated to nothingness and obscurity ?

    It wouldn’t have anything to do with Pakistan being a supposed ‘ally’ of ours ? Perish the thought.

    • Eric says

      Nov 26, 2014 at 6:26 pm

      The ACLJ is working on Asia’s case as well as other persecuted Christians around the world. They were instrumental in the release of Meriam Ibrahim. They also have various petitions on their web site to be sent to government officials.

  13. Barook says

    Nov 25, 2014 at 9:05 pm

    What the hell is the Pope doing? The Pope can insist on Western World Leaders especially the U.S. to immediately stop giving financial aid to Pakistan. Why are we helping Pakistan and other muslim nations who are working toward destruction of this world.

  14. Jas says

    Nov 25, 2014 at 9:35 pm

    http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1350927?eng=y

    Pope Francis is in Turkey to visit the tomb of Ataturk.

    He has gone as far as saying “We are wtnessing a ‘PIECEMEAL WWIII” but he won’t name the enemy we are facing.

    Pope Jorge Mario Bergoglio has given back to the diplomats, in the curia, the role that the two previous pontiffs had obfuscated. But ultimately he is the one to dictate the times and means of Vatican geopolitics. More with silences than with speech.

    He remained silent on the hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram. He remained silent on the young Sudanese mother Meriam, sentenced to death solely for being Christian and finally liberated by the intervention of others. He remains silent on the Pakistani mother Asia Bibi, who has been on death row for five years, she too because she is an “infidel,” and does not even reply to the two heartrending letters she has written to him this year, before and after the reconfirmation of the sentence.

    What will it take for him to name the beast..?

    With Islam, even in its theologically bloodiest form, this is what the pope does. He never calls those responsible by name. They must be “stopped,” he has said, but without specifying how. He prays and he has others pray, as he did with the Israeli and Palestinian presidents. He calls for all steps of dialogue to be taken, but on what unites and not on what divides.

    Unless he speaks up he will have to accept that he is a part of the problem, because according to Catholic teaching there 9 ways in which we can take part in the sin of others, we become unwitting supporters of evil actions by silence.

    V. THE PROLIFERATION OF SIN

    1865 Sin creates a proclivity to sin; it engenders vice by repetition of the same acts. This results in perverse inclinations which cloud conscience and corrupt the concrete judgment of good and evil. Thus sin tends to reproduce itself and reinforce itself, but it cannot destroy the moral sense at its root.

    1866 Vices can be classified according to the virtues they oppose, or also be linked to the capital sins which Christian experience has distinguished, following St. John Cassian and St. Gregory the Great. They are called “capital” because they engender other sins, other vices.138 They are pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth or acedia.

    1867 The catechetical tradition also recalls that there are “sins that cry to heaven”: the blood of Abel,139 the sin of the Sodomites,140 the cry of the people oppressed in Egypt,141 the cry of the foreigner, the widow, and the orphan,142 injustice to the wage earner.143

    1868 Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them:

    – by participating directly and voluntarily in them;

    – by ordering, advising, praising, or approving them;

    – by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so;

    – by protecting evil-doers.

    1869 Thus sin makes men accomplices of one another and causes concupiscence, violence, and injustice to reign among them. Sins give rise to social situations and institutions that are contrary to the divine goodness. “Structures of sin” are the expression and effect of personal sins. They lead their victims to do evil in their turn. In an analogous sense, they constitute a “social sin.”144

    Jas

    • Darren says

      Nov 26, 2014 at 11:33 am

      The Pope needs to call another crusade, there I said it. Free all non muslims living under muslim rule. It will come to that eventually anyway. Watch wait and see what happens when the next Lebanon occurs in Europe. You think the global jihad is bad now, once this kicks off in any European country in the future, you are going to think you are living in 732AD, except we don’t have Charles Martel. I know those are strong words, but I simply don’t see how we can solve this problem peacefully. I really wish we could, but this whole ideology reminds me of the movie the Terminator.

      It won’t quit, it won’t sleep, it will keep coming after us. Sarah Conner only had to deal with one Terminator, we have legions of them, and they are passively supported by legions more. Can some brilliant person come up with a solution that doesn’t involve this type of situation, for the life of me I can’t. I know what the situation on the ground, at this point in time we are in the phase of just trying to wake people up to the threat, so I guess my viewpoint is counterproductive in the fight at this moment in time. I’m just stating the writing I see on the wall that is all. We all know eventually in a European country somewhere once they feel emboldened and their numbers are right they are going to try carving out a state within a state. In some regards they already have it, muslim no go zones. Maybe the reverse will happen, they will try expanding their no go zones to such a point that they will face backlash and this will kick it off. Either way it’s going to get real bad in the future.

  15. Jae M says

    Nov 26, 2014 at 12:26 am

    You can all help by signing this petition at beheardproject.com. It costs nothing but the signatures have freed others like her. Please sign There are 234, 434 signatures so far and little time left.
    http://www.beheardproject.com

  16. Chantel Snyder says

    Nov 26, 2014 at 4:11 am

    TERRIBLE!!! Why on EARTH doesn’t the President of Pakistan just get RID OF THE BLASPHEMY LAW?????!!! Doesn’t he have the power to do that?!

    • Darren says

      Nov 26, 2014 at 11:36 am

      The president is representing the views of his people. They want to live in the 7th century.

  17. Finn says

    Nov 26, 2014 at 4:32 am

    This is NUTS!! The only blasphemy here is the socalled Pakistani “laws”!!?

  18. clifford hall says

    Nov 26, 2014 at 7:56 am

    All acceptable except for your last paragraph. There are many threats, many intolerances about this and that. But we’re talking about the all-pervasive satan . The unacceptable and niggling tooth-aches in others does not mean that an alien civilization rooted in a superstitious book compiled in the dark ages doesn’t want to render me and millions of others toothless.

    • Finn says

      Nov 26, 2014 at 9:14 am

      The only blasphemy here is the Pakistani socalled “laws”!!!
      Will you free this woman!!!!

  19. clifford hall says

    Nov 26, 2014 at 8:04 am

    Mirren 10, Jas and Jae M….thank you.

  20. Laura says

    Nov 26, 2014 at 9:21 am

    I would like to see a collection of Christian world leaders (so that rules out Obama) going to Pakistan and telling what passes for government there that there will be not a penny in aid if this poor woman is not released into their care immediately.

  21. Shaun McGee says

    Nov 26, 2014 at 7:17 pm

    This story absolutely breaks my heart. I have tried writing letters, sharing this on social media and signing petitions. The level of wapathy that I have received is unbearable, so much so that I have dismissed the likes of Facebook in protest. Along with some people who I considered my friends.

    Like I said early, heart breaking….

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