Picture from The Guardian

Sadly, today, the Lahore High Court (LHC) decided to uphold the conviction of the lower court.  Asia Bibi is still condemned to death by hanging for blasphemy. This was her 7th appeal attempt.  It was finally heard by the court, but the court did not rule in her favor.

Over a dozen Islamic clerics, including Qari Saleem who brought forward
the initial complaint against Mrs. Bibi, were present in the court. “We will soon distribute sweets among our Muslim brothers for today’s verdict, it’s a victory [for] Islam,”

CLAAS (Center for Legal Aid, Assistance, and Settlement), and organization that works with Christians in Pakistan, will file an appeal to the Supreme Court.  They have 30 days to do so, but the entire process could take years.  Nasir Saeed, director of CLAAS-UK said:


 “I am very disappointed with
today’s result and my thoughts and prayers are with Asia’s family. It is
not surprising that the judges were swayed by pressure from local
influential Muslims, but I had hoped that justice would prevail and that
the case would be judged based on its merits. While the rest of the world condemns such draconian laws, Pakistan
continues to persecute its minorities simply because of their religion. I have to now remain hopeful that the Supreme Court judges will look
at the case objectively and allow the final appeal, eventually
acquitting Asia.”

Now that Mrs. Bibi’s death sentence and conviction have been confirmed
by the Lahore High Court, the case can only be appealed to Pakistan’s
Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is more insulated from the growing
religious extremism that often holds heavy influence Pakistan’s trail
courts causing many to hope the Supreme Court will be adjudicate
Mrs. Bibi’s case on the merits of the case. If the death sentence and
conviction is confirmed by the Supreme Court, which many Christian and
human rights organizations see as unlikely, Mrs. Bibi will be the first
woman in Pakistan to be lawfully executed for violating Pakistan’s
blasphemy laws. 

Many times, the courts take a long time to hear a case in an effort to avoid ruling on it.  When this happens, the accused usually end up dying in prison and suffer greatly at the hands of other prisoners and guards.

Currently Asia Bibi’s health has deteriorated.  Her family is in hiding. A Muslim cleric issued a reward for murder in prison.  Several countries have offered her asylum if she is released, but it seems that it is impossible to get that. 

ICC’s Regional Manager for South Asia, William Stark, said, “The
case against Asia Bibi is a great example of how Christians and other
religious minorities are abused in Pakistan by fundamentalists wielding
the controversial blasphemy laws. The blasphemy laws were originally
written to protect against religious intolerance in Pakistan, but the
law has warped into a tool used by extremists and others to settle
personal scores and persecute Pakistan’s vulnerable religious
minorities. Sadly, the vast majority of blasphemy accusations brought
against Christians and others are false. Unfortunately, pressure from
Islamic radical groups and general discrimination against Christians in
Pakistan has transformed trial courts and now appeals courts into little
more than rubber stamps for blasphemy accusations brought against
Christians, regardless of the evidence brought to bear in the case.”

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