Final appeal for Asia Bibi on death row for blasphemy

(Vatican Radio) Pakistan’s Supreme Court will hear the final appeal of Christian mother Asia Bibi on Thursday six years after she was sentenced to death for blasphemy.

Ms Bibi was accused of blasphemy in 2009, after bringing water for the Muslim labourers she was working with in the field. They refused to drink, saying she had made the water unclean because she was a Christian.

If her appeal fails she will be the first woman to be put to death under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws.

Release International, which supports persecuted Christians around the world, has been following her case and is calling on Pakistan to release her.

Lydia O’Kane spoke to the organization’s press officer Andrew Boyd.

Listen: 

He says that what Release and other organizations are campaigning for “is that the blasphemy laws are repealed that Asia Bibi is acquitted; she’s set free; she’s always denied this charge and if she’s set free and we really hope and pray that she is, that the government will offer her protection and her family protection…”

Speaking about how Asia Bibi has been coping all through this ordeal, Andrew Boyd says that “her health has been very up and down, there have been periods where there has been a lot of concern about her health…”

Asked if there are other cases similar to that of the Christian mother, Mr Boyd comments that, “there are quite a few others who find themselves in that situation, it happens a lot.”

According to Release International Asia Bibi has been described as Pakistan’s highest profile prisoner and her case has been described as the most notorious trial ever to be held in Pakistan.