Christian woman faces death for blasphemy

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

ITTAN WALLI, Pakistan – In early November, in the dusty city of Sheikhupura in Pakistan’s heartland, Asia Bibi, an illiterate Christian woman and mother of five, was sentenced to death by hanging under the country’s blasphemy laws.

Her crime? She allegedly insulted the Prophet Muhammad.

Almost immediately, the death sentence unleashed international condemnation, and put pressure on Pakistan’s government to overturn the verdict and amend the country’s blasphemy laws – a holdover from a 19th century penal code designed to protect minority religious sects during British colonial times.

The law was radicalized during the 1980’s under the military dictatorship of General Zia ul Haq. He imposed life sentences, even death, for blasphemy to appease the mullahs and legitimize his grip on power.

Pope Benedict XVI appealed for clemency but hard-line Islamic groups have threatened civil war if the government pardons Bibi or attempts to amend the law.

Bibi’s husband, 48-year-old Ashiq Masih, is desperate, convinced radical Islamic groups are aiming to kill the family. He has gone into hiding, along with his children, sheltered inside a Christian colony in an outlying district of Sheikhupura. Masih insists his wife was framed, a victim of old score-settling in their village of Ittan Walli, where his family was just one of two Christian families.

“She was picking berries with other women, when she was sent to get water,” her husband said. “One of the women refused to drink the water after my wife dipped her cup into the bucket. This woman said it was contaminated because it was touched by a Christian.” According to Masih, all the women then started taunting his wife, and shouting insults against her mother and their children. Bibi just repeated the same insults back at them. “The name of the holy prophet never came up.”

At the time, Masih said he thought that was the end of it. It wasn’t.

“Five days later, the local cleric came to our house, followed by an angry mob, and dragged my wife away,” he said, recalling the incident that took place in June 2009. They beat her, ripped off her clothes and accused her of insulting the prophet. Then they locked her up in a house until the police came to take her away.”

In an interview with NBC News, Qari Muhammed Salem, the local cleric in Ittan Walli, accused Masih of lying. “I talked to everyone who witnessed this incident and she is guilty,” he said. “She confessed to the crime in front of the entire village and then she begged for forgiveness,” he insisted.

“She even told me she said these things in rage during a heated argument and would never think of blasphemy,” he said. Salem said he called the police to lock her up, only to protect her, because the angry mob would have killed her.

Najma Yousaf, a sister of Bibi, still lives in the family home in Ittan Walli, a rural village of approximately 10,000 inhabitants, almost all Muslim. “I’m not afraid to live in our house,” she said. “The villagers are all very nice with me, my husband and our children. They are angry with my sister.”

Bibi, 45, is the first woman condemned to death under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. While no one has ever been executed, most of the accused – all men – languish in prison alone and forgotten. Human rights groups point out that the law is a convenient way to settle scores, often among the Christian community who total about 2 million of Pakistan’s 175 million people.

In a statement released from New York, Human Rights Watch, called for Pakistan’s government to immediately introduce legislation to repeal the blasphemy laws.

“Asia Bibi has suffered greatly and should never have been put behind bars,” said Ali Dayan Hasan, senior South Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The injustice and fear the blasphemy law spawns will only cease when this heinous law is repealed.”

Other minority groups are targets too. The Ahmadis, an Islamic minority sect that has been declared non-Muslim under Pakistani law, are often the victims of intimidation and violence and incarcerated under the blasphemy laws. In addition, they are prime targets of the Pakistani Taliban who, in the past, have blown up their mosques, killing hundreds, according to Human Rights Watch.

Bibi’s lawyer has filed an appeal with the High Court in Lahore and Pakistan’s President Asif Zardari may consider an unconditional pardon if the appeals process takes too long.

So far, the Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti submitted a report on the case to Zardari. He concluded that the charges were baseless. In an interview with NBC News, he said that Bibi could be released on appeal in the high court. “We should wait for the court proceedings but if the court delays then the president may pardon her on the basis that she is innocent,” he said.

Bhatti is well aware of the possible consequences of an acquittal. Judges have been assassinated for freeing victims and several accused persons have been gunned down inside prisons or outside courtrooms as they walked free.

“We will protect Asia and her entire family,” the minister said. “No harm will come to them.”

Sidra, Bibi’s 18-year-old daughter, takes her younger sisters to the jail every Tuesday to visit their mother. “My mother tells us not to cry and to be strong,” she said. “But now, my mother is crying, so how can we be strong.”

With media reports of a possible pardon for Bibi, hard line Islamic groups have held demonstrations in cities across Pakistan. They’ve warned Zardari of a severe backlash if he commutes her death sentence.

At one rally, organized by “The Movement for the Protection of the Prophet’s Honor” denounced any attempt to change the law. “We are ready to sacrifice our life for the prophet,” they chanted.

http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/11/29/5543912-christian-woman-faces-death-for-blasphemy?GT1=43001

[zqt3344 21]

Where are all you loving, caring and sharing muslims at now??? I want to know what kind of religion promotes this kind of violence??? AND why do muslims always fight to allow no other religions in their country?? Why do muslims persecute Christians??? What a joke this is and the lie muslims push off on the world, oh your real peaceful and all inclusive alright, only under your sick violent terms! This is just another example of how muslims want a free pass and run around crying discrmination or how mistreated or misunderstood they are but yet where are you all now? I do not see anyone rushing to this poor woman's rescue, just because she is a Christian and does not subscribe to muslim beliefs, then she is to be killed. What a total joke and hypocrisy muslims exhibit. Can you imagine if the USA started rounding up all muslims and having them killed because they did not follow Christian religions??? Funny how I never see any muslims protesting this utter nonsense by these muslim, islamic law countries!

Edited November 30, 2010 by zqt3344

[ready4ONE 5,400]

This story got beaten to death here on VJ recently but yes it's pretty difficult to comprehend the lack of Muslim outrage such a travesty could occur in the modern world.

Sick. Backwards. Indefensible.

Cue the diversion from the OP...

[nab 74]

Where are all you loving, caring and sharing muslims at now??? I want to know what kind of religion promotes this kind of violence??? AND why do muslims always fight to allow no other religions in their country?? Why do muslims persecute Christians??? What a joke this is and the lie muslims push off on the world, oh your real peaceful and all inclusive alright, only under your sick violent terms! This is just another example of how muslims want a free pass and run around crying discrmination or how mistreated or misunderstood they are but yet where are you all now? I do not see anyone rushing to this poor woman's rescue, just because she is a Christian and does not subscribe to muslim beliefs, then she is to be killed. What a total joke and hypocrisy muslims exhibit. Can you imagine if the USA started rounding up all muslims and having them killed because they did not follow Christian religions??? Funny how I never see any muslims protesting this utter nonsense by these muslim, islamic law countries!

where in pakistan law does it not allow other religions? could you cite that law for me please? Thanks.

from the way the story reads she lives in a village unfriendly toward christians... look around you in america dear, there are many areas not friendly to various races, religions, nationalities. and if you mess up even in the slighest, or if they can make something up and cause trouble for you, there's someone just waiting to lock your behind up. so before you start pointing fingers at other countries, look at the 3 fingers on your hand pointing back at you... your own country needs work as well; begin there.

if you have never faced any persecution in your life then you are very blessed, and probably lead a very cushioned life.

your reading comprehension on this story is surprising... no one 'rounded her up becasue she is a christian and does not follow islam'...

although your mindset of rounding up muslims and killing us becasue we do not follow the christian religion sounds like a hate monger

this story is more about whether she was set up (she claims innocence but she admitted in front of witnesses she said what she did in anger) and whether this law is too harsh.

just out of curiousity, how much do you know about this law that you are ranting about? if this same woman had taken Jesus' (p.b.u.h.) name in vain what punishment would she have rec'd? do you know?

[Fandango 1,439]

Nab, I usually enjoy your posts, but you seem to be trying to defend, or at least divert the issue here.

[nab 74]

Nab, I usually enjoy your posts, but you seem to be trying to defend, or at least divert the issue here.

how am i "diverting"?

this story is not about america, it is about a woman in PAKISTAN, where there are blasphemy laws. this woman broke the law, and yes, will face harsh punishment for that.

rather than talking about rounding up all muslims to kill us and attacking islam because of a law put on Pakistan years ago, how about working toward getting laws reformed...

you may not agree with all laws so you may not choose to abide by them, but you know the penalty for breaking them when you choose to do so. thats a dangerous thing to do. anywhere.

Edited November 30, 2010 by nab

[sara..... 371]

how am i "diverting"?

this story is not about america, it is about a woman in PAKISTAN, where there are blasphemy laws. this woman broke the law, and yes, will face harsh punishment for that.

rather than talking about rounding up all muslims to kill us and attacking islam because of a law put on Pakistan years ago, how about working toward getting laws reformed...

you may not agree with all laws so you may not choose to abide by them, but you know the penalty for breaking them when you choose to do so. thats a dangerous thing to do. anywhere.

nab we lived in Multan for four years......some of our neighbors were Christian we all got along very well even went to each others homes for tea or dinner.......the problem with what is happening is not our religion but that our religion in Pakistan is many times put to shame not because of the religion but because of uneducated people in villages that have not learned the true Islam.....Islam in Pakistan has culture attached to it that leads a lot of what is going on.......same for any country such as Egypt or Saudi or India i guess im just trying to say that culture should never play a part in Islam but that is unrealistic in every country......

just my opinion

sara

oh and i forgot to add there is NO law in Pakistan that does not allow other religions....there are many places of worship there that are Christian and many other religions.....

Edited November 30, 2010 by sara.....

[luckytxn 2,264]

Religion of peace at work.

[nab 74]

nab we lived in Multan for four years......some of our neighbors were Christian we all got along very well even went to each others homes for tea or dinner.......the problem with what is happening is not our religion but that our religion in Pakistan is many times put to shame not because of the religion but because of uneducated people in villages that have not learned the true Islam.....Islam in Pakistan has culture attached to it that leads a lot of what is going on.......same for any country such as Egypt or Saudi or India i guess im just trying to say that culture should never play a part in Islam but that is unrealistic in every country......

just my opinion

sara

oh and i forgot to add there is NO law in Pakistan that does not allow other religions....there are many places of worship there that are Christian and many other religions.....

exactly (the bolded statement).

this woman's own sister still lives there with her husband and children, doesnt live in fear.

you are also correct in that many times people confuse culture with religion. people do things from their culture (or even take from other cultures because they live closely with them) and believe because this or that has 'always been done' it is part of their religion when sometimes those very things are unislamic!!

edit: there are also christian hospitals, schools and so on.

Religion of peace at work.

LOL baiter you are such a master at that

Edited November 30, 2010 by nab

[luckytxn 2,264]

exactly (the bolded statement).

this woman's own sister still lives there with her husband and children, doesnt live in fear.

you are also correct in that many times people confuse culture with religion. people do things from their culture (or even take from other cultures because they live closely with them) and believe because this or that has 'always been done' it is part of their religion when sometimes those very things are unislamic!!

LOL baiter you are such a master at that

LOL. Morning Nab. Hope all is well.

[nab 74]

LOL. Morning Nab. Hope all is well.

morning yourself surprisingly with all the rain my mood is much better, go figure (arent rainy days and mondays supposed to get me down? ). guess because my honey has been making a point of spending more time and not letting the fam interfer (though phone bills are taking a hit when they hog the computer!).

he got another job so thats wonderful; he can stay gone from there more and i just pray daily we get approval before anything bad happens!

how's things there?

[SMR 368]

how am i "diverting"?

this story is not about america, it is about a woman in PAKISTAN, where there are blasphemy laws. this woman broke the law, and yes, will face harsh punishment for that.

rather than talking about rounding up all muslims to kill us and attacking islam because of a law put on Pakistan years ago, how about working toward getting laws reformed...

you may not agree with all laws so you may not choose to abide by them, but you know the penalty for breaking them when you choose to do so. thats a dangerous thing to do. anywhere.

Obviously it's usually a good idea to keep the laws of the country where you live. It's just generally the path of least resistance. That doesn't mean that all laws are equally good or that the legal systems of all countries are equally just, open, and tolerant. Of course Pakistan has a law against blasphemy and a punishment affixed. That's why this lady is in trouble.

But you're ignoring the larger issue. This is a backward, oppressive, intolerant law. Muslim countries as a whole are backwards, oppressive, and intolerant. They are autocratic and make little technological or economic contribution to the world other than the natural resources that they happen to be in possession of.

As I've said before, the great condemnation of Islam is not the existence of extremists. Every religion has those. But there are no fundamentally Islamic countries that are free, democratic, conscious of civil liberties, and technologically contributing.

[nab 74]

Obviously it's usually a good idea to keep the laws of the country where you live. It's just generally the path of least resistance. That doesn't mean that all laws are equally good or that the legal systems of all countries are equally just, open, and tolerant. Of course Pakistan has a law against blasphemy and a punishment affixed. That's why this lady is in trouble.

But you're ignoring the larger issue. This is a backward, oppressive, intolerant law. Muslim countries as a whole are backwards, oppressive, and intolerant. They are autocratic and make little technological or economic contribution to the world other than the natural resources that they happen to be in possession of.

As I've said before, the great condemnation of Islam is not the existence of extremists. Every religion has those. But there are no fundamentally Islamic countries that are free, democratic, conscious of civil liberties, and technologically contributing.

first part is spot on but how is anyone "ignoring the larger issue"? this law and this case IS the issue of this thread... and it's not being ignored, there is pressure to get the blasphemy laws reformed.

the rest of your post is basically flaming (ahem, Lisa, see last 2/3 of SMR's post for example of "diverting").

you need to do your homework on what muslims have contributed to the world.

Edited November 30, 2010 by nab

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Nab 'harsh' is not the word for this law. And 'culture' seems to be the easiest dodge, after blanket accusations of bigotry (a VJ favorite) to cover up the fact that on today's world most predominantly Muslim countries seem to suffer from bad 'cultures' somehow illogically distanced from their dominant religion.

Allowing Christianity in Pakistan, along with other religions, but having and enforcing a death for blaspheme of Islam law on the books doesn't make Pakistan look modern, good, or tolerant. This is not 2010 BC after all. My calendar indicates it is 2010 AD.

[luckytxn 2,264]

morning yourself surprisingly with all the rain my mood is much better, go figure (arent rainy days and mondays supposed to get me down? ). guess because my honey has been making a point of spending more time and not letting the fam interfer (though phone bills are taking a hit when they hog the computer!).

he got another job so thats wonderful; he can stay gone from there more and i just pray daily we get approval before anything bad happens!

how's things there?

Super Duper here. I am in God forsaken Chicago though and about to head to the middle of nowhere Georgia. Soon I will be heading back to my babe so she can do the things that make me happy. Glad to hear you are a tad more cheery. I will also say a prayer for that approval for y'all.