Because of attempting to prove Asia Bibi’s innocence, even the lawyers of this young Christian woman condemned to death for blasphemy in Pakistan and the activists of the Masihi Foundation for human rights have become targets of threats.
Islamic fundamentalists determined to prevent Asia Bibi’s release from jail strike anyone trying to defend her.
A year ago the Governor of the Punjab, Salman Taseer, who had been to visit Asia Bibi in prison and had pledged to revise the laws on blasphemy, died. He was killed on the 4th of January 2011 at Islamabad by one of his bodyguards.
Two months later on the 2nd of March 2011, the minister for Religious Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, who was Catholic, was also murdered by Islamic fundamentalists for having stood up for religious freedom.
The activists of the Masihi Foundation in Lahore are ,via the AsiaNews website, calling ‘all people of good will’, whether Christian or Muslim without distinction, to stand up in defence of Asia Bibi because ‘she is innocent’.
The lawyers have been explaining how in Asia Bibi’s case there has been a ‘misinterpretation’ of the Law and their intention isn’t that of setting themselves ‘against’ certain communities or religious followers, but simply to save an ‘innocent’ and to respect the most important gift of all, human life.
“We have respect for Islam” they add “the prophet Mohammed and all religions and we hope this case will act as a ‘bridge’, not a ‘wall’ between Christians and Muslims”
Asia Bibi’s Lawyer S.K. Chaudry, once the appeal to the Supreme Court drafted by the legal team had been confirmed, has emphasized that his main aim is to safeguard the woman and her family.
Chaudry is also reported to have trust in the Pakistani judicial system, which according to him will prove Asia Bibi’s innocence.
The managers of the Masihi Foundation thank all those people who, in different ways, have worked and continue to work for the release of young Asia. They want to send a special kind thought to Pope Benedict XVI, who always prays for ‘human dignity and respect for all people’.
They end their statement by saying that the Pope’s words are a source of encouragement and a reminder to ‘fully respect’ human dignity.