LAHORE: Aasia Bibi, a Christian mother sentenced to death for blasphemy last year, is ‘well’ and faces ‘no threat in jail’, her husband said on Wednesday, rejecting recent claims of her poor health.
“She is perfectly alright, all the media stories about her are incorrect”, Ashiq Masih, husband of Asia Bibi, told AFP by phone. The Masihi Foundation, a human rights group, said in December it had visited the 46-year-old and was quoted by Catholic news agency Fides describing Bibi’s ‘very frail’ physical and mental state.
But her husband said the rights group ‘never visited her’, and insisted ‘she has no threat in jail.’
Jail Superintendent Sheikh Khalid Pervaiz in Sheikpura District also told AFP that Bibi had received no visitors apart from her husband.
“She is well in her lock-up. She is getting special treatment in C-Class cell. No other person other than her husband met her in the jail for the last one year or so,” he said.
Aasia Bibi, a mother of five, is being held in a prison in Sheikpura in the Punjab region. She was sentenced to death for blasphemy in November 2010 after drinking water from a well reserved for Muslims and allegedly making derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). Her appeal at the High Court in Lahore is ongoing.
The French foreign ministry had said it was “deeply concerned” about Bibi, following the claims of her poor health from the human rights group, and called for quick action on her appeal.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2012.
COMMENTS (19)
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"She is perfectly alright, all the media stories about her are incorrect" Says the poor man(what choice has he got!)
Well that is all right then. An innocent woman is languishing in jail for years on basis made up accusations.
The ruling elite are more interested in debating some irrelevant memos and other shenanigans.
One person who speaks out on her behalf (Salman Taseer) is mudered.
Good night Pakistan! Darkness has descended ....
@furqan: "@M M Malik: U need to study ISLAM properly."
Which one? One given by Prophet PBUH or your mulla's version?
@M M Malik: U need to study ISLAM properly.
@Jpy: Reportedly (by ET) this poor man has started a construction business with the money that he received to help fight Aasiya Bibi's case. Please read the news item describing the acrimony between him and the Christian rights organization gathering funds for the case. The lawyer is still going unpaid.
Release her and get rid of "death sentence" please. Our dear Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) would have pardoned her.
Asia bibi needs to be set free --- only then will the murder of Shaheed Salman Taseer be avenged!
the look on his face says it all...
My heart bleeds for this family. I dont believe she is "perfectly alright". Twice shame on Pakistan, first for jaling an innocent and second for forcing her family to stay quiet. Mr. Ashiq Masih, im sure you wont read this but believe me Allah will make up to you for these atrocities, and be rest assured that this is not real Islam.
Poor victims of bigotry. My prayers are with you.
I do not hold any hope for justice in the land of hypocritis and murderers.
Knowing Prophet PBUH, The Rehmat ul Almain (mercy for this world and here after), he would have completely forgiven her EVEN IF she had committed any blasphemy as he forgave his arch enemies during his life.
He would be ashamed and embarrassed if he found out what the blood thirsty savages were doing in the name of protecting his "honour."
@Mard-e-Haq: God has over and over proved that he is only on the side of powerful and wealthy. For poor and helpless he is not authorized. Bombs, floods, earthquakes, social injustices always strike the poor and weak!
What a honour for Pakistan to incarcerate a helpless and innocent women. And they want to pay Rs.100 millions for the pistol which killed Mr. Salmaan Taseer!
Blasphemy law is un-Islamic and against common sense. Aasia may be guilty of blasphemy, but there is no worldly punishment for her in Islam.
Aasia to be relased immediately and she and her family paid huge compensation. Shame on all the big parties not being able to make a joint Law annuling the blasphemy laws. If our profet (PBUH) where here today he would NEVER have accepted this blasphemy law.
He was forced to make that statement. Poor guy
God be with you Aasia. He is more powerful than your accusers:-)
wow. how beautiful. where can i apply for conversion?
Look at the fear on the poor man's face.
Well scripted response. This family cannot afford to commit blasphemy against the police now do they?