10/13/2018 Pakistan (International Christian Concern) – Pakistan’s religious extremists, including the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan and the Red Mosque in Islamabad have issued threats against the country’s Supreme Court justices over their decision in the Asia Bibi case. According to reports, the extremists threatened that if she were to receive clemency, the justices would meet a ‘horrible’ end.
On Monday, October 8, Pakistan’s Supreme Court finally heard the appeal of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death under the country’s notorious blasphemy laws. Bibi, who has been on death row since her conviction in 2010, remains the highest profile case of blasphemy in Pakistan and likely in the world.
The charges against Bibi stem back to an argument she had in 2009 with Muslim coworkers. These coworkers were offended that Bibi, a Christian who they considered untouchable, had used the same water bowl as Muslims. Bibi’s coworkers claim that she made blasphemous remarks against Islam in the argument that followed.
Following Bibi’s conviction and death sentence in 2010, two prominent politicians, Salman Taseer and Shabaz Bhatti, took up Bibi’s case. Both men were targeted and assassinated by religious extremists within a year.
For interviews with William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org.
