Mother of five, Asia Bibi with two of her children
(Voice of the Persecuted) We were informed early this morning that the Supreme Court adjourned Asia Bibi’s hearing of the final appeal against her execution. The Christian woman and mother of five, was accused of blasphemy, convicted and sentenced to hang in 2010 after an argument in June 2009 with a Muslim woman over a bowl of water. Bibi and her supporters have always maintained her innocence.
The hearing was postponed after Justice Iqbal Hamid-ur-Rehman, refused to be a part of the three-member bench. He told the court,
“I was a part of the bench that was hearing the case of Salmaan Taseer, and this case is related to that.”
The case has been referred back to the Chief Justice of Pakistan. It’s unclear when the hearing will resume.
Muslim hardliners threatened to take to the streets and not allow the government to function if the Christian woman was released. That the mosque would mobilize public opinion. They also threatened of “serious consequences” if Bibi was allowed to go abroad.
Hundreds of security forces had been deployed in Islamabad to maintain law and order.
Sources in Pakistan told Voice of the Persecuted,
“It clearly shows how much our government and court is concerned about the minority. They don’t care for the feelings a woman who is spending every single second in the hope of getting free and uniting back to family. We can’t imagine how she has spent such a long period in jail knowing she has committed no sin. How much more punishment does the Pakistani government want to give? She has lost seven precious years of her life. It’s very normal for a person in authority to treat someone in such a pathetic way. It’s normal in Pakistan.”
Voice of the Persecuted will keep you updated on Asia’s case. Thank you to all who have been praying for Asia, this appeal trail and her release. We encourage you to keep praying for her and her family.
VOICE OF THE PERSECUTED 