The Strange Case Of Asia Bibi: Christian Sentenced To Death For Blasphemy In Pakistan
ASIA Bibi is a Christian in Pakistan. She’s been sentenced to death for blasphemy. Asia Bibi is 45, says the Telegraph. Although this site news she is 37.
She has five children, says the Telegraph. Although the ANS nws service says she has four. The Pakistan Christian Post says she has two.
The key fact remains not in dispute: a court in Sheikhupura, near Lahore, Pakistan, has found her guilty of blasphemy.
The story goes that she was working at a farm. She worked with other women in the fields. The other women were all Muslim. When she brought them water to drink some refused it on the grounds that she is a Christian and “unclean”. Her water was no good to them.
The police report adds some detail to the Telegraph’s story:
“She had reportedly been discussing matters of faith with fellow laborers in the fields when Asia and her daughters were attacked by local villagers and Muslim clerics. She had reportedly been under pressure from her fellow workers to convert to Islam.”
A few days later, Mrs Bibi claims a group attacked her. The police took her in, for her own protection.
Asia News has yet more information:
Some of the women workers had reportedly been pressuring Bibi to renounce her Christian faith and accept Islam. During one discussion, Bibi responded by speaking of how Jesus had died on the cross for the sins of humanity and asking the Muslim women what Muhammad had done for them.
The Muslim women took offence and began beating Bibi. Afterwards she was locked in a room. According to Release International, a mob reportedly formed and “violently abused” her and her children.
Shahzad Kamran, of the Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan, says:
“The police were under pressure from this Muslim mob, including clerics, asking for Asia to be killed because she had spoken ill of the Prophet Mohammed. So after the police saved her life they then registered a blasphemy case against her.”
The Telegraph adds, with added menace:
Although no one has ever been executed under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws – most are freed on appeal – as many as 10 people are thought to have been murdered while on trial.
What really happened? Or do we no longer care for the facts when we see Muslims apparently abusing a Christian?
Spotter: June
Posted: 11th, November 2010 | In: Reviews Comments (18) | TrackBack | Permalink
