Pakistan: Last Appeal for Christian Mom Sentenced to Death

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) - A Christian mother sentenced to death in Pakistan for allegedly committing blasphemy will be given one last appeal by Pakistan's court system to avoid execution.

According to International Christian Concern, Asia Bibi has been on death row since her conviction and death sentence were announced by the Session's Court in Pujab back in 2010. Although her appeal hearing was delayed and rescheduled seven times, Justice Anwar-ul-Haq eventually confirmed Bibi's death sentence.

But now, Pakistan's Supreme Court will decide whether to grant, or reject Bibi's appeal. If granted, the court will set a future date for Bibi's appeal before deciding whether to uphold, or overturn her sentence. But if her death sentence is upheld, Bibi's only chance of avoiding execution would be by a presidential pardon.

"The case against Asia Bibi is one of the best examples of how Christians and other religious minorities are abused in Pakistan by fundamentalists wielding Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws," said William Stark, ICC's Regional Manager for South Asia. "The blasphemy laws were originally written to protect against religious intolerance in Pakistan, but the law has warped into a tool used by extremists and others to settle personal scores or spread religious hatred against Pakistan's vulnerable religious minorities. Sadly, the vast majority of blasphemy accusations brought against Christians and others are false...."