Asia Bibi, Sentenced to Death for Being a Christian, to Spend Christmas Behind Bars

Asia Bibi must be freed. We must not forget her in prison.

"Over these days the international community is, with great concern, following the situation of Christians in Pakistan, who are often victims of violence or discrimination. In particular, I today express my spiritual closeness to Ms Asia Bibi and her family while asking that, as soon as possible, she may be restored to complete freedom. I also pray for people who find themselves in similar situations, that their human dignity and fundamental rights may be fully respected" (Pope Benedict XVI)

P>LAHORE, Pakistan (Catholic Online) - In the stirring account of the Last Judgment found in the 25th chapter of St Matthews Gospel we read these words, "When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?... whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matt 25:,38, 40) Every time a follower of Christ is imprisoned for bearing witness to the truth, it is Christ Himself who is imprisoned.

This is why we report on the growing persecution of Christians around the world.

One of those Christians is the heroic Pakistani woman named Asia Bibi. She still sits in her jail cell in Pakistan, separated from her family, awaiting trial for a trumped up charge of Blasphemy. She was sentenced to death by hanging - simply because she is a Christian. The unjust sentence was rendered under Pakistan's horrendous "Blasphemy Law".

One portion of the Penal Code under which she was sentenced reads as follows: "Use of derogatory remarks, etc; in respect of the Holy Prophet. Whoever by words, either spoken or written or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine."

Her lawyer filed an appeal of her unjust sentence requesting a pardon from the Office of the President. President Asif Ali Zardari asked for a review of the facts of the case. It was widely reported that she would receive a presidential pardon or commutation of her sentence. However, on November 29, 2010 Khawaja Sharif, the chief justice of the Lahore High Court, issued an interim order ruling that while the matter was pending before it the President of the Nation may not issue a pardon for Asia Bibi.

On November 17, 2010, at his general audience in St. Peters square, Pope Benedict XVI called the world's attention to the plight of this contemporary Christian disciple with these words:

"Over these days the international community is, with great concern, following the situation of Christians in Pakistan, who are often victims of violence or discrimination. In particular, I today express my spiritual closeness to Ms Asia Bibi and her family while asking that, as soon as possible, she may be restored to complete freedom. I also pray for people who find themselves in similar situations, that their human dignity and fundamental rights may be fully respected. "

When the initial news of Asia Bibi's plight spread throughout the international media it brought near universal condemnation. Sadly, the concern did not last. Her plight and heroic suffering for the cause of Christ were soon forgotten. We cannot allow that to continue. Asia Bibi must be freed and we must stand in solidarity with her, calling the world's attention to this injustice. We must not forget her.

NBC news reported in 2010 that Asia Bibi's husband, Ashiq Masih, along with the couple's children, went into hiding in an undisclosed Christian enclave. He is convinced that the whole family has been targeted for death at the hands of radical Islamic groups. 

Asked about the events which gave rise to his wife's  death sentence he told NBC news, "She was picking berries with other women, when she was sent to get water. One of the women refused to drink the water after my wife dipped her cup into the bucket. This woman said it was contaminated because it was touched by a Christian."

According to Masih, all the women then started taunting his wife, and shouting insults against her mother and their children. Bibi just repeated the same insults back at them. "The name of the holy prophet never came up. Five days later, the local cleric came to our house, followed by an angry mob, and dragged my wife away," he said, recalling the incident that took place in June 2009. They beat her, ripped off her clothes and accused her of insulting the prophet. Then they locked her up in a house until the police came to take her away."

The "Blasphemy Law" is an instrument of oppression with which Christians and other religious believers are persecuted by Islamic supremacists. The use of such "Blasphemy" or "Religious Defamation" laws to persecute is not confined to Pakistan. It is an affront to the fundamental human rights recognized by freedom loving people around the world and revealed in the Natural Law.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it clearly, "Every human person, created in the image of God, has the natural right to be recognized as a free and responsible being. All owe to each other this duty of respect. The right to the exercise of freedom, especially in moral and religious matters, is an inalienable requirement of the dignity of the human person. This right must be recognized and protected by civil authority within the limits of the common good and public order." (CCC #1738)

Asia Bibi must be freed. The "Blasphemy Laws" used to suppress the free expression of religious faith in Muslim Nations must be rejected. In the face of such an obvious attack on a Christian, all those who bear the name must speak out! "When I was in prison you visited Me."

Because we know that our readers are deeply concerned about the plight of this persecuted Christian woman we wanted to update her situation. An article written by Jibran Khan and entitled "Christmas in prison for Asia Bibi, sentenced to death for blasphemy"  contained this recent interview which we pass on to our readers:

Asia Bibi, on the eve of Christmas, what are your hopes and expectations?

I will answer honestly, I do not know. What do you think will happen? I continue to pray and fast for my family. I wish with all my being to be with my family. I want to hug my daughters. And I still cherish the hope that one day I will be freed.

What message would you like to give to Pakistani Christians and those around the world who pray for you?

Please continue to pray for my return to my family. And I am immensely grateful for the prayers.

Do you have a special day, which breaks the daily monotony of prison?

I lost all sense of celebration, the only day I know, hate and - unfortunately - remember clearly is June 9, the darkest and most painful day of my life when I was arrested. I would not wish even my worst enemy to suffer what I myself have had to endure, what both I and my family have experienced since that terrible June 9. For us it was a nightmare and from then on I lost track of time. In prison you lose track of time, time, day, month. I am illiterate and do not enjoy special concessions in prison, the only thing I can do is participate in Sunday school lessons.

Have you forgiven the people who caused your arrest?

At first no, I could not. And how could I ? [She says this with great anger and then, almost sinks breathing heavily] Although illiterate, I remain deeply Christian and my religion has taught me the value of forgiveness. [she smiles ...] At first, when I was thrown into prison, I was angry and meditated revenge, because I had been ripped from my family. Then I started to pray and fast and it may seem strange, I have noticed that I have forgiven those people who charged me with blasphemy. This is a chapter in my life that I would love to shut behind me and forget.

What do you think of the situation of Christians in Pakistan?

[Her face darkens, then suddenly she begins to speak quietly ...] How many more brothers and sisters are still unjustly accused ... will be mistreated, abused, defendants in mock trials as happened to me.

Asia Bibi understands that the meeting is about to end and seems terrified to see friends leave.

"When will you come back again to see me?" And then she asks those present: "What will you do now?". Her voice rises to a pitch, like a cry for help ... "When will I be released ..."

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