PAKISTAN: Woman raped, sentenced to death for faith

Pakistani court: No pardon for Christian woman sentenced to death

December 01, 2010

The Lahore High Court has ruled that Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari cannot pardon Asia Bibi, the 45-year-old Christian mother of five whose death sentence on blasphemy charges has provoked an international outcry. The president is disputing the ruling of the court, which determined that the president cannot issue a pardon while a case is under appeal.
Bibi, a resident of Ittanwali in the eastern province of Punjab, was working at a local farm when the Muslim women with whom she was working called her an infidel and urged her to convert to Islam. Bibi refused, saying that Christianity was the only true religion.
"The Muslim men working in nearby fields also gathered and attacked Asia Bibi on which she fled to village in her home," the Pakistan Christian Postreported. "The angry Muslims followed her and took her out of home and started beating her. They tortured her children also, but meanwhile someone informed police."
Bibi also says that her accusers raped her.
Police then arrested Bibi on blasphemy charges. Following a lengthy trial, she was sentenced to death.
Bibi is fearful she will be killed in prison; her family has gone into hiding.
Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• Conflict between President and Magistrate in the case of Asia Bibi (Fides)
• No pardon for Asia Bibi, orders Chief Justice LHC (Pakistan Christian Post)
• Asia Bibi fearful of violence even if death sentence is lifted (CWN, 11/29)
• Muslim leaders: Don't pardon Christian sentenced to death for blasphemy (CWN, 11/24)

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"The protection of human life [at all its stages] is the "rock solid and inviolable" foundation upon which all other human rights are based." - Benedict XVI