Pakistan: 23 unreported ‘blasphemy’ cases in 2 years

Pakistan: 23 unreported ‘blasphemy’ cases in 2 years
Since 2013, the All Pakistan Ulema Council (APUC) has intervened in 23 incidents involving Christians accused of blasphemy, preventing them from becoming major incidents, according to Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, the APUC Chairman. (The APUC, a representative group of senior Muslim clerics, is very influential in Pakistani public life.) It . . . Read More

Asia Bibi’s last chance for freedom

Asia Bibi’s last chance for freedom
Pakistani Christian Aasiya Noreen (known as Asia Bibi) has been allowed to take her appeal against her death penalty for blasphemy to Pakistan’s Supreme Court in the capital, Islamabad. Until the Supreme Court reaches its final decision, Noreen cannot be executed. Commentators today have praised the Supreme Court for its courage to . . . Read More

Pakistan court upholds death penalty for Asia Bibi despite serious legal loophole in trial

Pakistan court upholds death penalty for Asia Bibi despite serious legal loophole in trial
The first Christian woman to be sentenced to death under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws had her appeal rejected by the High Court in Lahore on Thursday. Aasiya Noreen, commonly known as Asia Bibi, received the death penalty in 2010 after she allegedly made derogatory comments about the Prophet Mohammed during an . . . Read More

Pakistani mother condemned for ‘blasphemy’ allegedly beaten

A female prison officer assigned to provide security for a Christian mother of five who was sentenced to death on “blasphemy” charges beat her earlier this month, sources said. Sources in Pakistan’s Sheikhupura District Jail said Asia Noreen, also known as Asia Bibi, was beaten on Oct. 5 by a . . . Read More

Jailed Pakistani mother living in constant fear, husband says

A mother of five sentenced to death on “blasphemy” charges has lived in constant fear since the killing of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, her husband told Compass as he came out of Sheikhupura District Jail after meeting with her last week. Ashiq Masih said his wife, Asia Noreen (alternatively spelled . . . Read More