From Jihad Watch:
Pakistan: Christian woman in jail since February released after blasphemy charges are finally dropped
While the release of Agnes Bibi (not Asia Bibi, who is still in prison) is very welcome news, her case must not be upheld by any government authority as an example of the Pakistani system "working," when the very law under which she was imprisoned should not exist. It can never be "correctly" applied, because it is unjust: the blasphemy law is a denial of freedom of conscience, and is designed to keep Pakistani non-Muslims and dissenting Muslims quiet, compliant, and living in fear.
"Faisalabad: accused of blasphemy, woman freed thanks to help from Christians and Muslims," by Shafique S. Khokar for Asia News, November 21:
Faisalabad (AsiaNews) – Christians are grateful to the Muslim community for conducting an “in-depth investigation” before they would condemn someone for blasphemy, a crime punishable with death or life in prison in Pakistan. Thus, they have prevented an “untoward incident over a sensitive issue,” said Fr Naveed Arif, a priest at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Faisalabad. Speaking to AsiaNews, he could not hide his satisfaction over the outcome of the case, which he describes as “an example in inter-confessional harmony” with Islam.
The case involved a Christian woman, Agnes Bibi, who was accused of defaming the name of the prophet Muhammad. Arrested for blasphemy, she had the original accusation dismissed and the case against her reduced to a lower charge. This allowed her to apply and get bail. “I hope a culture of peace and religious harmony prevails whenever controversies arise in Pakistan,” the priest said, “because Christianity teaches us peace and harmony and is against intolerance and violence.”
Agnes Bibi (pictured), 50, is from Abin-e-Mariam Colony, Faisalabad. In order to undermine the position of Christians in a property dispute with Muslims, she was accused of blasphemy. On 16 February 2011, a complaint was failed against her and she was taken into custody three days later following an interrogation by a magistrate.
An in-depth investigation began on 5 March. After months of work and a number of depositions, the original charge was changed from blasphemy to that of “Promoting enmity between different groups” under Article 153-A of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Agnes Bibi told AsiaNews that in prison she prayed for her release, and that she was happy the judge granted her bail.
Her husband, Bashir Masih, 52, said that he had to take out a loan to pay for the bail imposed by the judge. “My wife is very sick and I have to raise money for her medical treatment,” he added.
Posted by Marisol on November 22, 2011 12:03 AM
Pakistan: Christian woman in jail since February released after blasphemy charges are finally dropped
While the release of Agnes Bibi (not Asia Bibi, who is still in prison) is very welcome news, her case must not be upheld by any government authority as an example of the Pakistani system "working," when the very law under which she was imprisoned should not exist. It can never be "correctly" applied, because it is unjust: the blasphemy law is a denial of freedom of conscience, and is designed to keep Pakistani non-Muslims and dissenting Muslims quiet, compliant, and living in fear.
"Faisalabad: accused of blasphemy, woman freed thanks to help from Christians and Muslims," by Shafique S. Khokar for Asia News, November 21:
Faisalabad (AsiaNews) – Christians are grateful to the Muslim community for conducting an “in-depth investigation” before they would condemn someone for blasphemy, a crime punishable with death or life in prison in Pakistan. Thus, they have prevented an “untoward incident over a sensitive issue,” said Fr Naveed Arif, a priest at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Faisalabad. Speaking to AsiaNews, he could not hide his satisfaction over the outcome of the case, which he describes as “an example in inter-confessional harmony” with Islam.
The case involved a Christian woman, Agnes Bibi, who was accused of defaming the name of the prophet Muhammad. Arrested for blasphemy, she had the original accusation dismissed and the case against her reduced to a lower charge. This allowed her to apply and get bail. “I hope a culture of peace and religious harmony prevails whenever controversies arise in Pakistan,” the priest said, “because Christianity teaches us peace and harmony and is against intolerance and violence.”
Agnes Bibi (pictured), 50, is from Abin-e-Mariam Colony, Faisalabad. In order to undermine the position of Christians in a property dispute with Muslims, she was accused of blasphemy. On 16 February 2011, a complaint was failed against her and she was taken into custody three days later following an interrogation by a magistrate.
An in-depth investigation began on 5 March. After months of work and a number of depositions, the original charge was changed from blasphemy to that of “Promoting enmity between different groups” under Article 153-A of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Agnes Bibi told AsiaNews that in prison she prayed for her release, and that she was happy the judge granted her bail.
Her husband, Bashir Masih, 52, said that he had to take out a loan to pay for the bail imposed by the judge. “My wife is very sick and I have to raise money for her medical treatment,” he added.
Posted by Marisol on November 22, 2011 12:03 AM
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