The case of Asia Bibi is the focus of the Human Rights Day in Washington.
Meanwhile
in Pakistan, Ansar Burney, UN councilor for Human Rights, and former
Federal Minister for Human Rights in the country has asked President
Zardari to pursue and bring to court those who have issued an Islamic
decree ordering the illegal killing of the woman, who is innocent.
Ansar Burney said he feared very much that Asia Bibi, who
was sentenced to death at first instance under the blasphemy law, and
her family could be killed during her detention, at the hearing that the
high court must fix for her appeal, or should she be released.
He
alleged that the Punjab government is totally silent on this issue, and
allows openly fundamentalist groups to decide the fate of prisoners in
the name of Islam.
Ansar Burney wrote in his letter: "I am writing to voice
my deep concern regarding death sentence of Asia Bibi, a Christian
mother of five, on the charges of alleged blasphemy by a court and the
government’s inability to prosecute those nonsense elements who are
openly announcing their intention to kill her or award cash money for
that purpose"
Meanwhile, celebrating World Day for Human Rights in the
National Press Club in Washington Nazir Bhatti, president of the
Congress of Christians in Pakistan gave a speech.
"I would
like to invite you to pay attention to the misuse of Islamic laws by the
Muslim majority against religious minorities, particularly the
blasphemy laws used to target innocent people," Bhatti said.
Bhatti added, " We have grave concerns about the safety
of Aasia Bibi, a Christian mother of five, who was sentenced to death on
an accusation of blasphemy law Section 295 B and C PPC on November 8,
2010, in the Punjab province of Pakistan, which by the way is toughest
for minorities. On this Day, Universal Human Right Day, we Pakistani
Christian appeal to US administration to press upon government of
Pakistan to repeal controversial blasphemy law which is being used
against religious minorities to settle business rivalries and personal
petty disputes. We also appeal US administration to condition aid to
Pakistan under the Kerry-Lugar with religious freedom and human rights
so that every citizen of Pakistan may enjoy equal basic democratic and
human rights"
Bhatti has also warned the United Nations accepting the Pakistani proposal to globalize the blasphemy law.
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