Pakistan's Court of Sessions has passed the death sentence on a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, yesterday evening. Asia, who is 45-yrs old and has five children, was accused under the blasphemy laws of passing derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammed.
Andy Dipper, the CEO of Release international, has stated that, in his informed opinion, Pakistan has crossed the line in passing the death sentence.
‘Pakistan’s notorious 295C blasphemy laws are wide open to abuse. In effect Asia has been sentenced to death for sharing her Christian faith. In previous cases, the death sentence has not been carried out. But this could well mean a life sentence for Asia in appalling conditions on death row.
‘Christians, as well as other minorities, can easily be accused of blasphemy, often as a vengeful way of settling scores. Release International has launched a petition calling for justice in Pakistan. Please go online and add your name today.’
Asia, who is from Ittanwali in Punjab province, laboured in the fields for a Muslim landlord. She was arrested after a heated discussion about religion with her fellow farmworkers. Hers was one of only three Christian families in the village.
Some of the women workers had been putting her under pressure to renounce her Christian faith and accept Islam.
On June 19, 2009, the women pressed Asia about Islam. She responded by sharing with them about her faith in Christ.
She spoke of how Jesus Christ had died on the cross for their sins and then asked them what Mohammed had done for them.
On hearing this response the Muslim women became very angry and began to beat her. Some men took Asia by force and locked her in a room. They used the PA system of a local mosque to broadcast plans to punish Asia by blackening her face and parading her through the village on a donkey.
According to Release partners, a mob formed and Asia was violently abused by Muslim villagers and clerics. Her children were also beaten.
However, some Christians informed the police and Asia was taken into protective custody. Pressure to charge her was brought to bear by Muslim leaders. Sentence was passed yesterday.
Asia was also fined £728 – the equivalent of two-and-a half years’ salary for an unskilled worker.
Release partners in Pakistan say the sentence is a crushing blow for Asia, who was hoping to be acquitted and return to her husband and children. They say: ‘Although Asia has great courage, her dreams of release have vanished now. Please pray for her encouragement, strength and protection.’
This is yet another example of the brutality of the Islamic religion as practised by many hard-line Muslims. Throughout the Islamic world there are cases of murder and violence on a daily basis against many people who refuse to acknowledge the superiority of the Prophet Mohammed, in addition to the world-wide terrorist activity that exemplifies the Islamic Fundamentalists.
I pray that the light of Jesus Christ will enter their darkness and lead them to true salvation which can only truly be found in Christ. Jesus Christ has said:
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)
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