Monday, October 20, 2014

SLMP taking up Asiya case to Supreme Court


Published by NewsInCountrys
Published on Oct 17, 2014

The Voice of the Martyrs and Cornerstone Television Network have made a video asking people to pray for Asia Bibi, the woman sentenced to death for making 'blasphemous' comments about the prophet Mohammed.

Pakistani Christian woman is sentenced to hang for 'blasphemous' comments about prophet Mohammed during row with Muslim women who refused to share water

A Pakistani Christian woman has been sentenced to hang after she was accused of making 'blasphemous' comments about the prophet Mohammed during an argument.

While working as a berry picker in 2009, 46-year-old Asia Bibi got into a dispute with a
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Shamim Masih reports that SLMP Chairman Sohail Johnson is taking up Asia Bibi’s cause to fight the Pakistan Blasphemy Law conviction by appealing to Pakistan’s highest court.

Here are some recent storylines giving perspective to Asia Bibi’s persecution as a Christian:





JRH 10/20/14
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SLMP taking up Asiya case to Supreme Court

By Shamim Masih
Sent: 10/19/2014 6:42 AM

ISLAMABAD: The time has come that minority parliamentarians need to take a stand; it is time to reopen the debate on the blasphemy law in Pakistan, said Sohail Johnson, chairman Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan (SLMP) [About SLMP]. After the decision of a special division bench of LHC, upholding the death sentence of Asiya Bibi, my heart leapt out to see her kids and after sitting with the Aashiq Masih and her kids, I decided to take this case and now SLMP is going to file an appeal in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, announced Sohail Johnson.

Shamim Masih, Ashiq Masih (Asia's husband) & Sohail Johnson
    
Shamim Masih, Ashiq Masih (Asia’s husband) and Sohail Johnson


According to the details, a farm worker, mother of 5, is [being] kept away from her children for five years and four month. Yes, Asiya Bibi, dared to drink water in the cup of her co-workers in the field. Asiya became the victim of prejudice and greed and was accused of committing blasphemy. She has been in jail since June 19, 2009. She was awarded death sentence by the additional District and Sessions Judge Justice Muhammad Naveed Iqbal, despite the lack of evidence on November, 2010. On 16th October, 2014, a special division bench of the Lahore High Court dismissed the appeal, condemned Christian woman Asiya Bibi and upheld her death sentence on the blasphemy charges.

Ashiq Masih, the husband of the poor lady, was bitterly weeping when I met him. He said, it [i.e. Sohail Johnson’s announcement] was a ray of hope but the rejection of the appeal has shattered his confidence on Pakistani courts. He confidently said that judges were under pressure. He is still not in the position to control his nerves and how his children will survive, who were hoping their mother [would] come back home. But still he is hopeful and will go for the next judicial avenue – the Supreme Court of Pakistan to appeal.

According to her husband, the counsel, was weak and couldn’t convince the judge. He said he will choose the best lawyer of the town in the apex court [common description of Pakistan’s highest court which is a Supreme Court]. Ashiq Masih [placed] blame that [the Muslims] Asma and Mafia. [These two] are the sisters [accusing culprits]. And they falsely implicated Asiya Bibi in the blasphemy case because they felt disgraced and dishonored on the basis of altercation [at the Muslim designated well] and [the] hard words extended to them by Asiya Bibi when they denied drinking water brought by her for them.

Ashiq Masih was also critical of the role of some Christian non- government organizations in this regard. He said some of them have worked to worsen the situation. A number of lawyers and non-government organizations are in the race to take credit but are not doing anything practical. A human rights champion reportedly has supported [Asiya Bibi with] just 3000 Rs. [Pakistan Rupees] ever since, but have been gathering millions of the funds in her name [that Asiya has not benefited from], he added.

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih
Diplomatic Correspondent
Daily Khabrian – in Urdu (PakBiz.com description – in English) & Channel - 5
Human Rights Activist

For Americans especially, I have discovered the best way to donate to Shamim Masih is via Western Union sending this LINK to a Western Union agent in Islamabad. Include Shamim’s phone - +92-300-642-4560
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Edited by John R. Houk
Text and links enclosed by brackets are from the Editor.

© Shamim Masih

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