Aasia Bibi, a Christian mother of five, is sitting in a Pakistani jail awaiting
a death sentence for blaspheming the prophet Muhammad—and an appeal by the pope
hasn't saved her.
Asra Nomani on a horrifying case.
The email zipped across the globe from a Catholic nun of the Sisters of
Loretto,
living in rural Pakistan, to Sister Anna Koop, who was visiting their home
order
in rural Kentucky. The subject line: “Punjab: Christian Woman Sentenced To
Death
For Blasphemy."
Sent Nov. 11, the nun's message told the story of a Catholic farm worker, Aasia
Bibi, convicted of violating antiquated blasphemy law propped up by Pakistan's
Islamist political parties. Allegedly, when some women workers pressured Aasia
to renounce her Christian faith and accept Islam in the summer of 2009, Aasia
responded that Jesus had died on the cross for the sins of humanity and she
asked them what Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, had done for them. Her crime,
blaspheming the prophet, carries a mandatory death sentence.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-12-15/aasia-bibi-and-the-christian-death-sentence-in-pakistan
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Goanetter Valmiki Faleiro's book 'Patriotism in Action: Goans In India's
Defence Services' release on Dec 18, 2010 at 5.30 pm. Goa Chitra Museum,
Benaulim. Available in Goa: Confidant/David&Co (Margao), Broadway, Literati,
Other India-Mapusa, Sainik Coop, at Mumbai (David & Co), Pune (Manney's,
Popular), Bangalore (Narayan), Delhi (Ritana).
