Article by Cameron Spink

 

A Pakistani Christian woman, Asia Noreen, has received the death penalty for allegedly blaspheming both Muhammad and the Quran. The facts indicate that Asia was dobbed in to the local Muslim cleric when she would not convert to Islam.

 

The Pakistani district court has sentenced Asia to be hanged for her crime against section 295-C & 295-D of Pakistan's "blasphemy" laws. Such laws are reported to be prone to misuse by those wishing to settle grudges against minority groups, such as Christians, who make up approximately 2% of Pakistan's population.

 

Although the death penalty has never been actually under the "blasphemy" charges (in 974 occurances) there is still great cause for concern for Asia. She could still face significant jail time, like Zaibunnisa, who spent 14 years in jail despite it being held that there was "no evidence".

 

In this case there are similar signs of corruption. The district judge ruled out any possibility of the charges being false, even though the facts suggested that "reasonable doubt" (to use a western legal term very liberally) existed. What is more there is undisputed testimony as to mitigating factors to which the judge dismissed without hesitation.

 

It seems that there is a great fear, even in the Pakistani judiciary, of the extremist mob who can manipulate public figures merely by the power of numbers. Last year Rashid Emmanuel and his brother were killed outside the courts when the mob got wind that there was expert evidence exonerating them from the "blasphemy" charges. In another act of violence a judge was killed after he acquitted a "blasphemer".

 

There are various other incidents of Islamic extremism overwhelming justice and due process. This means, for Asia, regardless of what happens inside the courtroom she may very well have the death penalty over her head for the rest of her life. We must play that she is successful in her appeal to the Lahore High Court and get involved by signing the petition demanding her release.

 

 

http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/pakistan/28345/

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/family-leads-outcry-at-blasphemy-death-penalty-2135011.html

http://au.christiantoday.com/article/christian-woman-sentenced-to-death-in-pakistan-for-blasphemy/9541.htm

http://www.smh.com.au/world/outcry-over-death-sentence-for-blasphemy-mother-who-offered-farmhands-water-20101112-17pri.html