Pakistan: Asia Bibi acquitted
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| Pakistan's Supreme Court has acquitted Asia Bibi. |
In a historic ruling on October 31, Pakistan's Supreme Court
acquitted Asia Bibi, the Catholic woman on death row since 2010, under
accusation of blaspheming against Prophet Muhammad, an allegation she has
always denied.
By Robin Gomes
Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar announced
the verdict on Wednesday to a packed courtroom and ordered Asia Bibi
released, declaring Asia Bibi innocent.
The decision followed the hearing of Asia Bibi’s final
appeal by a Supreme Court judicial panel on Oct. 8.
The landmark ruling sparked protests by
hard-line Islamists and raised fears of violence.
In perhaps Pakistan’s most famous blasphemy case, Asia Bibi
was arrested and imprisoned in June 2009 on allegation of
insulting the Prophet Muhammad, following an argument with Muslim women
over her use of a drinking vessel meant for Muslims. The following year
she was sentenced to death.
According to the blasphemy laws in Pakistan’s Penal Code,
insulting the Prophet Muhammad is a crime punishable by death, while offending
the Koran, Islam holy book, incurs life imprisonment.
Fr. Emmanuel Yousaf, is the national
director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP)
of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (PCBC).
Speaking to Vatican News, he described the Supreme Court’s October 31 verdict
as a victory for the whole nation and a victory for justice.
Asia Bibi verdict beneficial for Pakistan
Noting that many Muslims are also victims of the blasphemy
laws, Fr. Yousaf said that the verdict is beneficial for all the
citizens of Pakistan, irrespective of whether they are Muslim, Christian,
Hindu, Sikh or of other faiths.
According to the priest, most Pakistanis will be happy with
the verdict in favour of “this poor lady” who, despite being innocent had to
spend about 10 years in prison in solitary confinement.
God listened to prayers
According to the NCJP national director, God has listened to
her prayers and the prayers of all of us, including those of the good-hearted
Muslim brothers and sisters who believe in justice.
The priest invoked blessings on the judges for delivering
justice. He also invoked blessings on the nation saying Muslims, Christians and
other, all are citizens of Pakistan and love their country. He said they
need to continue praying for their nation.
Fr. Yousaf appealed to the entire world to pray for the
Church in Pakistan that is suffering but which is strong in faith. He
also urged for prayers for the country that it may prosper.
Controversial blasphemy laws
The blasphemy laws remain an extremely sensitive issue in
the predominantly Muslim nation and they have drawn intense criticism even
within the country.
Influential Punjab governor Salman Taseer and
the Minister for Minorities Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic,
were both assassinated in 2011 after they defended Asia Bibi and spoke out
against her death sentence and the misuse of the blasphemy laws.
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