Pakistani court rules that Christian woman will be put to death

A high court in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore has confirmed the death sentence of a Christian woman who was convicted of blasphemy, destroying the hopes of her family that the conviction would be overturned or lessened to jail time.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Asia Bibi has been on death row since November of 2010, after she was convicted of blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed during an argument with several Muslim women when she drank from the same bowl of water as they.

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"On behalf of Asia Bibi I have today filed an appeal in the Supreme Court," said Saifu Malook, a defense attorney. "We expect an early hearing of the appeal and hope that the proceedings will be over in one year."

Malook claims that the court should look at allegedly manipulated evidence and a significant delay between the time of the incident and its investigation by Pakistani police.

He also said that the blasphemy charge was concocted by enemies of Bibi, and it has no basis in fact.

Bibi's husband has also written to Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, asking that she be pardoned and allowed to move to France.

"We are convinced that Asia will only be saved from being hanged if the venerable President Hussain grants her a pardon. No one should be killed for drinking a glass of water," said Ashiq Masih-Bibi's husband-in an open letter published in the New York Times.

Blasphemy is a major crime in Pakistan, and even an unproven allegation can cause mob violence by Muslims mad for blood. Earlier this month, a Christian couple were murdered by a mob of dozens for apparently mocking the Quran, they were beaten to death and had their bodies burned in a brick kiln where they worked.

While Pakistan does have the death penalty on the books for blasphemy, it has never executed anyone for this crime.

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