LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) – A Pakistani court has sentenced to death a Christian mother of five for blasphemy, the first such conviction of a woman and sparking protests from rights groups Thursday.
Asia Bibi, 45, was sentenced Monday by a local court in Nankana district in Pakistan's central province Punjab, about 75 kilometres (47 miles) west of the country's cultural capital of Lahore.
Pakistan has yet to execute anyone for blasphemy, but the case spotlights the Muslim country's controversial laws on the subject which rights activists say encourages Islamist extremism in a nation wracked by Taliban attacks.
Bibi's case dates back to June 2009 when she was asked to fetch water while out working in the fields. But a group of Muslim women labourers objected, saying that as a non-Muslim, she should not touch the water bowl.
A few days later the women went to a local cleric and alleged that Asia made made derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammed. The cleric went to local police, who opened an investigation.
She was arrested in Ittanwalai village and prosecuted under Section 295 C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which carries the death penalty.
Sentencing her to hang, Judge Naveed Iqbal "totally ruled out" any chance that Asia was falsely implicated and said there were "no mitigating circumstances", according to a copy of the verdict seen by AFP.
Husband Ashiq Masih, 51, told AFP that he would appeal her death sentence, which needs to be upheld by the Lahore high court, the highest court in Punjab, before it can be carried out.
"The case is baseless and we will file an appeal," he said.
The couple have two sons and three daughters.
Rights activists and minority pressure groups said it was the first time that a woman had been sentenced to hang in Pakistan for blasphemy, although a Muslim couple were jailed for life last year.
Human rights activists want the controversial legislation repealed, saying it is exploited for personal enmity and encourages Islamist extremism.
"The blasphemy law is absolutely obscene and it needs to be repealed in totality," Human Rights Watch spokesman Ali Dayan Hasan told AFP.
"It is primarily used against vulnerable groups that face social and political discrimination. Heading that category are religious minorities and heterodox Muslim sects," he said.
Around three percent of Pakistan's population of 167 million is estimated to be non-Muslim.
Last July, two Christian brothers accused of writing a blasphemous pamphlet critical of the Prophet Mohammed were shot dead outside a court in Punjab.
Pastor Rashid Emmanuel, 32, and his brother Sajjad, were killed as they left a court hearing in Faisalabad city, where hundreds of Muslim protesters had demanded they be sentenced to death.
The supporters of Sharia Law should be along anytime now.
Real classy there American. Sorry was this the part where Honour was restored? Not sure when that's gonna be exactly.
Do I support this? **** No.
If it were up to me, judges that hand down sentences like this would be facing the death penalty.
Do I support Sharia Law? **** No.
Do I want another thread completely dedicated to Muslim bashing... **** NO!
Why not be critical of this sort of barbaric behavior, JetBoogieMan, and publicize it for all the world to see?
This incredibly inhumane behavior must be publicized, and done on a regular basis, if any changes are going to be made.
Real classy there American. Sorry was this the part where Honour was restored? Not sure when that's gonna be exactly.
Do I support this? **** No.
If it were up to me, judges that hand down sentences like this would be facing the death penalty.
Do I support Sharia Law? **** No.
Do I want another thread completely dedicated to Muslim bashing... **** NO!
I was replying to Americans post, which is basically if I come in and say, that you shouldn't paint all muslims with the same Brush, I'm accused of "Supporting Sharia Law and perhaps later on terrorism".
I think what has happened here is barbaric.
But if you're gonna turn this thread into another Muslim bashing episode, I want no part in it.
I was replying to Americans post, which is basically if I come in and say, that you shouldn't paint all muslims with the same Brush, I'm accused of "Supporting Sharia Law and perhaps later on terrorism".
I think what has happened here is barbaric.
But if you're gonna turn this thread into another Muslim bashing episode, I want no part in it.
Muslims should stand up and speak out against this barbarity and not call it "Muslim bashing" unless it is an accepted part of their religion.
If it accepted they should be "bashed". If it is not let's have an airing.
There are a very few, but they are in the overwhelmingly vast minority. I'm sure there is a segment that stay quiet out of fear, but that speaks even more to this so-called faith we tap-dance around.
I was replying to Americans post, which is basically if I come in and say, that you shouldn't paint all muslims with the same Brush, I'm accused of "Supporting Sharia Law and perhaps later on terrorism".
I think what has happened here is barbaric.
But if you're gonna turn this thread into another Muslim bashing episode, I want no part in it.
"Those who believe (in the Quran), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians...and (all) who believe in God and the last day and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." The Qur'an, 2:62
And also this little quotation from the QuranAnd also this line from the Hadith "If anyone harms (others), God will harm him, and if anyone shows hostility to others, God will show hostility to him."
"O mankind! We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know and honor each other (not that you should despise one another). Indeed the most honorable of you in the sight of God is the most righteous." Chapter 49, Verse 13
"God does not forbid you to be kind and equitable to those who have neither fought against your faith nor driven you out of your homes. In fact God loves the equitable." Chapter 60, Verse 8
"And what will explain to you what the steep path is? It is the freeing of a (slave) from bondage; or the giving of food in a day of famine to an orphan relative, or to a needy in distress. Then will he be of those who believe, enjoin fortitude and encourage kindness and compassion." Chapter 90, Verses 12-17
"Show forgiveness, speak for justice and avoid the ignorant." Chapter 7, Verse 199
I'm thinking it's more of people tired of apologizing for something they didn't do.
Why is this in the breaking news section? .
And how many Muslims are speaking out against the execution of a Christian, who simply spoke against Mohammed?
They are implicit in their inaction.
I was replying to Americans post, which is basically if I come in and say, that you shouldn't paint all muslims with the same Brush, I'm accused of "Supporting Sharia Law and perhaps later on terrorism".
I think what has happened here is barbaric.
But if you're gonna turn this thread into another Muslim bashing episode, I want no part in it.
Because it happened recently and the link provided is to a news source.
Why is this in the breaking news section? When its not breaking news, since it more to do with Religion than anything. And I agree with Jet, since I DEFEND Muslims like Laila who don't act like the ones in the OP and somehow I get called a terrorist supporter it just ridiculous.
However, I don't support what the people in the OP did in fact they are the people I fight against, since I know they twist Islam in to a their own perversion of Islam. I also love the fact that the people in the OP seem, and also some posters on this bored seem to forget this little line of the Quran.
and cut out the rest of the post, and didn't adress the full post.
[/B]
I'm thinking it's more of people tired of apologizing for something they didn't do.
No one is looking for apologies.
What most of us are looking for is a way to stop the senseless and murderous aspects of Islam. Muslims aren't coming up with too many ideas as to how this might be stopped, apart from blaming it on non-muslims.
Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan
AFP
Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan - Yahoo! News
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?