Imagine being locked up for almost a decade because you are a staunch believer of your religion. Sad and depressing, isn’t it? Well, its the dawn of a new era as a woman has finally seen sunshine after a court ruling in Pakistan overturned her death sentence for blasphemy of Mohammed.
Final paragraph of the Pakistan Supreme Court judgment, quashing #AsiaBibi‘s conviction & death sentence. pic.twitter.com/0fQ5jpW5pB
— Matthew Scott (@Barristerblog) October 31, 2018
“I can’t believe what I am hearing, will I go out now? Will they let me out, really?” AFP news agency quoted her as saying by phone.
Justice lovers and christians have taken to twitter to celebrate the good news.
Great news! Pakistan’s Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of #AsiaBibi, the Christian woman imprisoned for 9 years on blasphemy charges. Hopefully, she & her family can get safe refuge out of Pakistan. God bless her & her family for all of the suffering they’ve endured. pic.twitter.com/nvIlyCOONf
— Iraqi Christian HRC (@iraqschristians) October 31, 2018
Enormous courage and independence shown by Pakistan Supreme Court judges, quashing #AsiaBibi conviction in the face of chilling intimidation.
— Matthew Scott (@Barristerblog) October 31, 2018
Fantastic result. Very brave of the court. They were well prepared. Let’s hope preparations for #AsiaBiBi release are equally well planned.
— Hampton Bag Lady (@hamptonbaglady) October 31, 2018
Ameen
— Sultan Khan (@sultandec23) October 31, 2018
Laws enacted by the British Raj in 1860 made it a crime to disturb a religious assembly, trespass on burial grounds, insult religious beliefs or intentionally destroy or defile a place or an object of worship, punishable by up to 10 years in jail.
The trial stems from an argument Asia Bibi, whose full name is Asia Noreen, had with a group of women in June 2009.
They were harvesting fruit when a row broke out about a bucket of water. The women said that because she had used a cup, they could no longer touch it, as her faith had made it unclean.
Prosecutors alleged that in the row which followed, the women said Asia Bibi should convert to Islam and that she made three offensive comments about the Prophet Muhammad in response.
She was later beaten up at her home, during which her accusers say she confessed to blasphemy. She was arrested after a police investigation.
A petition was made to free mom Asia Bibi from a death sentence with the following sentiments.
No one should be put to death for their faith. Stop this vile violation of human rights. Release Asia Bibi immediately.
A Christian mom has been sentenced to death in Pakistan for her faith.
Asia Bibi was falsely accused of “blasphemy” – speaking against the prophet Muhammad.
Now this wife and mother of five will hang for her Christian faith.
She would be the first woman executed under Pakistan’s Shariah blasphemy law.
This is the ultimate human rights violation.
We’re mobilizing our international affiliate the European Centre for Law and Justice and its partner in Pakistan to stop this atrocity.
Add your name to our letter to the government of Pakistan demanding Asia Bibi’s freedom.
ACLJ petitions aren’t merely names on a page but powerful tools used with governments, the media, and courts to focus attention on injustice and create real-world change.
They alert members of the media and can help drive national news stories as petition signatures grow.
it is hopefully the end of a truly revolting story of ignorance and wrongdoing
— THEWHITLAM (@THEWHITLAM) October 31, 2018
Do you believe that anyone should be arrested because of their religious stands?