Blasphemy convict: On death row, Aasia Bibi losing hope
LHC upheld death sentence two weeks ago, dashing hopes it might be commuted to jail term
LAHORE:
A Christian woman condemned to death four years ago for blasphemy is losing hope that she will be freed or pardoned, her husband, who lives in hiding because of his wife’s conviction, told AFP on Friday.
Aasia Bibi has been on death row since November 2010 after she was found guilty of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet (PBUH) during an argument with another woman.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) confirmed the death sentence two weeks ago, dashing hopes it might be commuted to a jail term.
Speaking to AFP after visiting her wife for the first time since the LHC’s ruling, Ashiq Masih said it had come as a crushing blow.
“Aasia was hopeful that her appeal would be admitted and she would be freed, but now she has lost hope,” Masih told AFP. “She was distraught, weeping for most of the time I had with her, appealing to the Supreme Court and president to use their powers to give
her justice.”
Pakistan has never executed anyone for blasphemy and has had a de-facto moratorium on civilian executions since 2008.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2014.
A Christian woman condemned to death four years ago for blasphemy is losing hope that she will be freed or pardoned, her husband, who lives in hiding because of his wife’s conviction, told AFP on Friday.
Aasia Bibi has been on death row since November 2010 after she was found guilty of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet (PBUH) during an argument with another woman.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) confirmed the death sentence two weeks ago, dashing hopes it might be commuted to a jail term.
Speaking to AFP after visiting her wife for the first time since the LHC’s ruling, Ashiq Masih said it had come as a crushing blow.
“Aasia was hopeful that her appeal would be admitted and she would be freed, but now she has lost hope,” Masih told AFP. “She was distraught, weeping for most of the time I had with her, appealing to the Supreme Court and president to use their powers to give
her justice.”
Pakistan has never executed anyone for blasphemy and has had a de-facto moratorium on civilian executions since 2008.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2014.