Scottish Catholic Observer

British Pakistani Christians have issued a new call for the release of Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian who faces the death penalty for blasphemy, six years after she was placed in prison.

She was sentenced to death in November 2010, following accusations of blasphemy from a group of Muslim women who refused to let her drink water from the same well. She has always denied the accusations. Pakistani authorities have ignored an international outcry and calls for her release.

“Six years have passed and the travesty of justice continues,” Wilson Chowdhry of the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), said today. “For some time we have been told that there has been a moratorium on the death penalty because of pressure from Western donors, but even before this vanished at the end of last year, it has become clear that her treatment was in effect a slow death sentence by neglect and worse, all for a allegedly committing a crime that should not exist—blasphemy.”

“Asia Bibi is by no means the only Christian on death row for blasphemy,” Mr Wilson added. “There are a number of others, and there are also other Christians who are in there for crimes they did not commit, and are in effect there because they are Christians.  One man who had been imprisoned for over two decades from the age of 15 and who was well known to be innocent of the crime he was convicted of was executed two weeks ago.”

Mr Wilson said he hoped the British Government would do all it could to force Mrs Bibi’s release.

“I call on the UK government to remonstrate with the Pakistani government in the strongest possible terms over this deadly game of bait and switch, and to free Asia Bibi and let her and her family escape to safety,” he said.

Earlier this month Mrs Bibi’s family reported that the 50-year-old had been vomiting blood, according to reports from her family.Her family said she is suffering from intestinal bleeding and needs medical care. They say she is ‘so weak she can hardly walk.’

Pope Francis met Asia Bibi’s family in April, saying: “I pray for Asia, for you and for all Christians who are suffering.”

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