It began in the summer of 2009 as a quarrel over water in a sweltering farm field in the province of Punjab. When the heated words were over, Asia Noreen Bibi was charged under the strict blasphemy laws of predominantly Muslim Pakistan.
A Christian wife and mother, the woman commonly known as Asia Bibi was convicted by a district court last month of blaspheming the Prophet Muhammad. The punishment is mandatory death and Asia Bibi became the first female in Pakistan to be sentenced to hang for blasphemy.
APAsia Bibi at a prison in Sheikhupura, near Lahore, on Nov. 20. She appeared in a televised interview from her prison, tearfully denying the blasphemy charges that led to her death sentence.Asia Bibi, a Roman Catholic, says she did not commit the crime. The case has drawn international condemnation, and Pope Benedict XVI has called for Asia Bibi’s release.
What will you do today to help free Asia Bibi? The State Department needs to know that you want this matter to be a prominent topic of discussion with Pakistan (202.647.9823).
Shared with appropriate contacts. The movie The Stoning of Soroya gives a real good perspective on this very real problem. Most who may not agree will not go against the pack mentality or mob rule that reinforces these practices. The consequences for opposing is severe also.
I think it is … although I would not advocate ‘bushian’ methods for defending democratic pluralism!
It’s not confined to ‘islamism’ either, of course. Those of us watching the situation in Uganda know that well enough!
The NPR article does mention that no one has ever been executed because of blasphemy. It appears the bigger threat is from extremists trying to murder her.
I’m a little disappointed by the article though. It talks about the extremists, but doesn’t discuss how the ave. pakistani feels about this law. It does mention the islamic gov. Taseer is opposed to it, but the overall impression is that most pakistani support the law (and her conviction), which I suspect is not the case.
Of course, things like this matter to all of us: perhaps the great ‘political’ divide these days is between theocratic dictatorship and pluralist democracy (with many countries operating in a rather ‘schizophrenic’ manner). Many ‘religious’ folk find themselves firmly on the same side as many atheists on this one!
I’ve left a message on the number you have given.
Obviously, I knew about all this; our church takes in keen interest in the issue of the persecution of Christians in certain places.
Shared with appropriate contacts. The movie The Stoning of Soroya gives a real good perspective on this very real problem. Most who may not agree will not go against the pack mentality or mob rule that reinforces these practices. The consequences for opposing is severe also.
The NPR article does mention that no one has ever been executed because of blasphemy. It appears the bigger threat is from extremists trying to murder her.
I’m a little disappointed by the article though. It talks about the extremists, but doesn’t discuss how the ave. pakistani feels about this law. It does mention the islamic gov. Taseer is opposed to it, but the overall impression is that most pakistani support the law (and her conviction), which I suspect is not the case.
I think it is … although I would not advocate ‘bushian’ methods for defending democratic pluralism!
It’s not confined to ‘islamism’ either, of course. Those of us watching the situation in Uganda know that well enough!
Well, that is the way Al-Qaida has presented it, Richard, as well as George W Bush after 9/11. I think you’re right.
Of course, things like this matter to all of us: perhaps the great ‘political’ divide these days is between theocratic dictatorship and pluralist democracy (with many countries operating in a rather ‘schizophrenic’ manner). Many ‘religious’ folk find themselves firmly on the same side as many atheists on this one!
Well, that is the way Al-Qaida has presented it, Richard, as well as George W Bush after 9/11. I think you’re right.
You may find it odd for an atheist to do but I have been a follower of the Voice of Martyrs monthly newsletters. For instance in Pakistan….
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Two Christian men were shot to death as they left a courthouse on Monday, July 19, in Faisalabad, Pakistan, according to VOM sources. Rashid Emmanuel, 32, and his brother, Sajid, 30, were facing blasphemy charges after allegedly distributing papers that denigrated Mohammad.
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On Dec. 3, 2010, a mullah in Pakistan offered more than $6,000 (U.S.) to anyone who kills Asia Bibi, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. VOM contacts are concerned for Asia’s safety. In the past, Christian have been killed in jail, on their way to court, and even after being released from jail.
The call is the least any empathetic individual can do.
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I’ve left a message on the number you have given.
Obviously, I knew about all this; our church takes in keen interest in the issue of the persecution of Christians in certain places.
You may find it odd for an atheist to do but I have been a follower of the Voice of Martyrs monthly newsletters. For instance in Pakistan….
.
Two Christian men were shot to death as they left a courthouse on Monday, July 19, in Faisalabad, Pakistan, according to VOM sources. Rashid Emmanuel, 32, and his brother, Sajid, 30, were facing blasphemy charges after allegedly distributing papers that denigrated Mohammad.
.
On Dec. 3, 2010, a mullah in Pakistan offered more than $6,000 (U.S.) to anyone who kills Asia Bibi, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. VOM contacts are concerned for Asia’s safety. In the past, Christian have been killed in jail, on their way to court, and even after being released from jail.
The call is the least any empathetic individual can do.
…