This is unexpected, since the case was only reconsidered because of massive nationwide riots by Muslims who demanded her death. It would have surprised no one if the Pakistani Supreme Court opted to appease those mobs. Instead, watch for new riots and mob violence.
“Asia Bibi blasphemy acquittal upheld by Pakistan court,” BBC, January 29, 2019:
Pakistan’s top court has rejected a challenge to the acquittal of a Christian woman on blasphemy charges.
The Supreme Court upheld its decision to overturn Asia Bibi’s conviction and death sentence.
She was originally convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad in a row with her neighbours, and spent eight years on death row.
She has always maintained her innocence in a case that has polarised Pakistan.
The Supreme Court’s quashing of her sentence last October led to violent protests by religious hardliners who support strong blasphemy laws, while more liberal sections of society urged her release.
Hardliners had petitioned to overturn this ruling.
“Based on merit, this petition is dismissed,” Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said in court on Tuesday.
Ms Bibi – also known as Asia Noreen – was unable to leave Pakistan while an appeal request was pending….
Anjuli Pandavar says
This means that the Pakistani Supreme Court holds itself to a higher standard of law than does the European Court of Human Rights.
Roland says
@ Anjuli: Yes.
Gail Griffin says
I hope she is on a plane to some safe place.
Ernie says
I hope so much Mrs. Bibi and her loved ones now can leave Pakistan for a country of their own choice .
Older Canadian says
I hope she chooses Canada. We need people like her.
Terry Gain says
Older Canadian
Spencer Fernando has reported that Bibi has chosen Canada and her daughters are already here.
Ernie says
That’s good news , Terry Gain . Thank you !
gravenimage says
Yes–so glad to hear that her daughters are already safe in Canada.
Michael Copeland says
Next the Christian communities in Pakistan will experience mob violence, burning of shops, and the usual muslim attacks, on the basis that they have shared blame: it is what Islam does, and what the Pact of Umar specifies.
t says
You’re absolutely right!
somehistory says
Michael Copeland,
If they can’t get to her to torture and kill, they will go after those whom they can reach with murder and mayhem. It will likely be a slaughter much like what has been happening elsewhere.
gravenimage says
Grimly likely, Michael. I pray other Christians there are able to stay safe.
Martin says
Eight years of “living” in a Pakistani prison hell-hole for supposedly insulting the long dead paedophile prophet of Islam and still this Christian woman’s nightmare isn’t over.
Asia Bibi has gone through hell and back while the West has sat on its hands and watched. While Europe and the rest of the Western world was busy taking in millions of Muslim “refugees” (mostly young, fit, military-age men) we let this one Christian mother of five rot in a Muslim prison, under constant threat of death, for eight years when all that it would have taken to release her from unjust incarceration was the simple threat of the West withholding some of its billions of dollars of foreign aid to the Pakistani government. Money talks.
21st century Pakistan is living in the 7th century Muslim past which is why it’s a member of the Third World.
t says
I agree that it’s a very strange and stupid world we are living in, today!
WPM says
Pope Frank “Islam the religion of peace I say it! must be so!!” is still not talking about this woman unfairly being held in Pakistani ? He is too busy talking about climate change , wagging his finger at the Newly elected Italian PM about his new policy of establishing that Italy has borders and will not take in every “refugee” that floats up on an Italian beach. Why speak up about a women who was sentence to death for defending and refusing to renounce her Christian faith? Pope Frankie want to import more angry, violent, unvetted military age Moslem men from Africa and the Middle East to torment native Italians.
blogger5 blogger says
Bibi’s prayer from Psalm 119:86 “All Your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me!” God heard her cry.
somehistory says
blogger5
+23
Renate says
Hopefully she is out of Pakistan and on her way to a safe country where she can live a long, normal life away from Islam.
Carolyne says
Will heard earlier today that Ms Bibi is now in Canada having joined her sister there.
gravenimage says
God, I hope so. Do you have a link, Carolyne?
Beverly says
I’m very thankful that Trump cut the funding to these people
Charles says
I happen to know that there are modern thinking Pakistani people who are deeply embarrassed by this case. I think there are some in Pakistan also. Thanks Robert for keeping us updated on this egregious case of dark age “justice” versus modern thinking. Glad to see a modern mindset does exist in part at least in a dangerously backward place. Our shameful fake-news media fails in all regards to report on this unprecedented case.
gravenimage says
I wish they’d speak up. But to do so would be un-Islamic.
Raja says
Really unexpected from Pakistan, may be political pressure from govt did the trick of upholding the acquittal.
May be the courts are really independent. If I am right an incumbent prime minister was convicted of corruption.just this decade.
Whatever the story, the blasphemy laws in Pakistan are used as domicile’s sword over non Muslims to subjugate and to torment them with an intention to destroy them. It is estimated that most of the blasphemy cases are trumped up (by Muslims) to settle scores with non-Muslims.
This is one of the most evil practices on the face of the earth.perpetrated on non-Muslims. I wonder why the West has to bribe them for running a nation that is a sewer. Or are they (the west) bending over backward to reign in the beast of Islam in Pakistan and “Palestine” like the pope is doing?
Carol the 1st says
Correction: Damocles sword
R Russell says
I hope she is joining her daughters in Canada – although I’m not sure Canada is the best place to be,
Terry Gain says
She will be safe here. The government will protect her. Trudeau can’t afford more bad publicity.
Renate says
Trudeau may not be able to afford more bad publicity, but with his track record, can he avoid it? Living in Canada didn’t keep Marissa Shen safe. (Remember all those fighting age single Muslim men Trudeau said he wasn’t going to invite to Canada?) Anything can happen with Trudeau at the helm.
End PC says
Great news, but Islamic apologists will try to claim that death for blasphemy is not mandated in the Qur’an anyway, but it is via 5:33 and moreover implicitly by asserting that Muhammad must be obeyed (Q 4:80), and he certainly wanted blasphemers to be killed.
Rarely says
As Pakistan tries to show a new face to the West so it is less demonized we can expect similar decisions in all high profile cases. It’s not as if there has been an overnight change of heart. The leopard’s spots are intact.
Richard says
Do we even know for sure that Asia Bibi is still alive – or do we only have Pakistans word?
And furthermore do we have any inkling of her mental state after all her torture?
i.e maybe it is thus safe for regime to acquit her and at same time score international points for their “fair” judicial system!
Mark Berlinger says
Do not get excited just yet. This is act three of a four act play. Sharia courts are never finished with Asia Noreen or any non-Muslim accused of blasphemy in Dar al-Islam.
gravenimage says
I hope you are wrong–but I know you may well not be.
Terry Gain says
Asia Bibi has chosen Canada.
https://www.spencerfernando.com/
PRCS says
The Chief Justice of Pakistan’s Supreme Court:
“The image of Islam we are showing to the world gives me much grief and sorrow…”
***It’s the public expression of written, Orthodox Islam (Qur’an and sunna).
The case was a showdown between mainstream Muslims and radical Islamists. Islamists had repeatedly pushed for Bibi to be killed, while moderates in the country pushed back.
***And how, exactly, do Islamists differ from “radical Islamists”?
Renee says
Thanks to God.
Thanks for Saif her lawyer a brave man, a muslim who risks his life.
Do not forget to pray for him and bless him.
Paul J says
That he is, God Bless Him. Just goes to show that Islam is the problem, not individual muslims
gravenimage says
Yes–her lawyer is a very brave man. I hope he is able to stay safe.
Ole Pederson says
Do not thank God, that is what brought her into problems! We thank the brave and courageous lawyers and other persons who helped to achieve this acquittal in a country where a wrong word can bring a death warrant! Let us hope she will be in safety soon!
gravenimage says
“Allah” is not God, Ole.
I agree about her courageous and principled lawyers and others who helped her, though.
David says
The Huffington Post is now reporting that P.M. Justin Trudeau has offered asylum to Asia Bib and her family. It is about the first good decision the Prime Minister has made since he was elected to his current position. Interesting to note the UK’s Home Office capitulating once again to Islamic supremacists, while encouraging endless numbers of them to overrun the country. Disgraceful far-leftists.
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2019/01/29/trudeau-asylum-asia-bibi_a_23656072/
gravenimage says
One other good thing he did was offer asylum to the girl from Saudi Arabia threatened with death by her family for leaving Islam.
Not much else good to say about him–but credit where it is due.
Carol the 1st says
Nothing absolves Mr. Bait and Switch most, most unfortunately.
Tekyo Pantzov says
Asia Bibi and the Islamic Stinquisition
gravenimage says
Pakistan: Accused blasphemer Asia Bibi’s acquittal upheld by top court
………………..
Surprised, but so glad. I pray Pakistan now releases Asia Bibi and her family. I know that her daughters have been given asylum in Canada; I hope she and her husband can join them.
Mr. Maxwell S. J. Fenton says
And Britain refuses sanctuary, happy to accept terrorists but not Christians. Refused on the grounds it might cause a violent backlash from our community from the religion of peace.
I’m so ashamed of my peers and politicians, it hurts.
gravenimage says
No need for *you* to be ashamed–you are a patriotic Briton. The UK needs more like you.