Free Asia Bibi
Aasiya Noreen, or “Asia” Bibi, is a Christian woman awaiting “death by hanging” in Pakistan.
This 42-year-old, impoverished mother of five is accused of “blasphemy.” She has been in prison on death row for nearly five years.
Asia’s nightmare began in June 2009, when she was picking fruit with fellow female workers from her remote village. At the height of the mid-day heat she drank from a well, only to hear someone yell, warning no other women to drink from the well because it was haram. In other words, it had been “dirtied” by the Christian and was therefore “forbidden.”
Asia responded to this declaration with a declaration of her own: “I think Jesus would see things differently than Mohammed.”
This statement made its way through her village, and days later, as she was picking fruit once again, both male and female villagers closed in on her. Asia was beaten so badly that she was brought to the brink of unconsciousness, her tormentors stopping only to ask her if she would recant her Christianity and convert to Islam.
When she answered “no,” she was beaten again.
In the end she was charged with blasphemy, handcuffed and chained, and now sits in a cell, awaiting death that will come by a hangman’s noose.
The Pakistani government recently transferred Asia to a more remote prison, hoping she dies quietly behind bars, perhaps poisoned by another inmate.
Two Pakistani government officials who have spoken out on her behalf have been murdered, including Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti, who was killed by the Taliban.
Current Situation for Christians in Pakistan
A recent Pew Research Center report named Pakistan, which is 96 percent Muslim, as one of the most hostile nations in the world for Christians. Pakistan is among the top five overall for restrictions on religion. The report singled out Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy laws as a prime example.
A study on Pakistan from the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom counted more than 200 attacks among religious groups and 1,800 casualties resulting from religion-related violence between 2012 and mid-2013, which is one of the highest rates in the world. Most of the violence was against minority Christians.
Right now — in Pakistan — Christians face discriminatory laws, forced conversions, and bombs and shootings aimed at “cleansing” the nation of all non-Muslims. Pakistani courts frequently use “blasphemy laws” to give death or life-time jail sentences to Christians accused of insulting Islam. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 34 people were charged with blasphemy in 2013. At least 16 people are currently reported on death row for blasphemy, and 20 are serving life sentences.
The U.S. Has Leverage
This past January, the US approved $33 million in aid to Pakistan on the condition that the country cooperates with the U.S. in the war on terror.
However, CFI believes that if the U.S. is to provide any aid to Pakistan, more conditions are needed. “Asia Bibi and others like her must be set free, Pakistan’s horrendous blasphemy laws must be repealed before another U.S. tax payer’s penny is given to the country.”
The U.S. should restrict funds to Pakistan and use all diplomatic pressure to protect minority Christians like Asia Bibi.”
Under the Obama Administration, the U.S. State Department refuses to even name Pakistan a ‘country of particular concern’ for religious freedom violations. This is reprehensible.
By listing Pakistan as a “country of particular concern,” it would open up several options for the president, including putting in a formal request to Pakistan, recalling the American ambassador and economic sanctions.