By Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (ANS – February 23, 2018) – A UK-based, recently-launched campaign, “Free Asia Bibi” has urged Christians around the world to pray during Lent for the immediate and unconditional release of a Pakistani Christian woman who, accused of blasphemy, has been on death row in Pakistan since 2010.
Asia Bibi has been in prison since being accused of having committed blasphemy by her female co-workers in 2009.
A spokesperson of Free Asia Bibi Campaign (https://www.facebook.com/ReleaseAsia/) said: “Asia is in solitary confinement in a prison in Pakistan. She has five children. It is a shame that Asia continues to be behind bars despite passage of 8 years and 248 days.”
The spokesman went on to say that the situation surrounding Pakistan’s blasphemy laws has gone from bad to worse since a stringent version of the laws was introduced by the late military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq in the late 1980s.
The Christians of Pakistan, the poorest of the poor, are economically marginalised, socially ostracized, and are denied due representation in the parliament and policy-making institutions, the spokesman said.
According to the campaign, deep-seated discrimination against them means that they are denied jobs in public and private sectors. Most Pakistani Christians live in slums, and work as janitors. Successive Pakistani governments have not made serious efforts to lift Christians, and other religious minorities, out of poverty. Consequently, they continue to be mired in abject poverty. The Christians of Pakistan and other religious minorities have little or no religious freedom. Blasphemy laws are frequently used to settle personal scores and vendettas.”
Highlighting the ongoing abuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, the campaign spokesman stated there have been incidents in the past when entire Christian villages or towns have been set to fire after it was rumoured that local Christians had committed blasphemy.
Pakistani Muslims are also not immune from becoming victims of the blasphemy laws. Members of the Ahmadyia community [a minority Muslim sect], and other religious minorities, such as Hindus, have also been accused of having committed blasphemy.
Free Asia Bibi Campaign, the spokesperson stated, is profoundly concerned about the continued imprisonment of Asia Bibi.
The spokesman said: “We urge the international community to step up its efforts to get Asia Bibi released. We appeal to Members of Parliament (MPs) around the world to take up the issue of Pakistan’s Asia Bibi with the Pakistani authorities. We urge all Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to make sure that Asia Bibi is released.”
“A few days in prison can feel like a time forever. Asia Bibi has been in prison, year after year, and we are deeply concerned about her wellbeing. How long will she [Asia Bibi] have to rot in prison before she is released? How long will Asia Bibi have to be in prison before she would be reunited with her family?”
“How long she will be condemned to be in prison before she could live and breathe as a free woman; a woman who is free of this label of a ‘blasphemer,’ a woman who would have won her freedom of religion, thought and conscience.”
“Has she [Asia Bibi] not had enough punishment already for the ‘crime’ she says she hasn’t committed?”
The campaign spokesman said when Asia Bibi was arrested, her children were quite young. Now they have grown up without having the motherly love that every child needs.
“Can we invite you to please pause and reflect, how miserable we would have felt if any of us, unfortunately, had to grow up in the circumstances Asia Bibi’s children are having to grow up?”
“We urge all mothers around the world to please pray for Asia Bibi. We urge all daughters on this planet to pray for the unconditional release of Asia Bibi.
“Next time you go to your respective churches, we appeal to you to lift Asia Bibi in your prayers. We appeal to all free men and women across the globe to pray for the release of Asia Bibi.”
The spokesperson concluded: “No human being should be persecuted. We urge you to please commit to becoming advocates for this poor and illiterate woman who cannot speak for herself we, therefore, are reaching out to you so that you could speak for Asia Bibi.”
About the Writer: Michael Ireland is a volunteer internet journalist serving as Chief Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, as well as an Ordained Minister, and an award-winning local cable-TV program host/producer who has served with ASSIST Ministries and written for ANS since its beginning in 1989.
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