Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Pakistan: Christian fear forced conversion to Islam in jail of Asia Bibi

http://ahmadiyyatimes.blogspot.com/
Chief of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC, Dr. Nazir S Bhatti in a statement released here today has feared that Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of 5, sentenced to death under blasphemy, serving in Multan jail can be enforcedly converted to Islam. Asia Bibi was arrested in June 2009, under charges of blasphemy Section 295 B and C PPC, subject to capital punishment on drinking water in cup of Muslim women when working in farm in his native village Ittan Wali in District Sheikhupura of Punjab province of Pakistan. As Christians are treated as infidels in Pakistan, the Muslim women coworkers of Asia Bibi claimed that she have made their drinking water cup as Unclean on which arguments aroused among them on which Muslim women blamed that Asia Bibi have defiled name of Prophet Mohammad. A Muslim mob attacked home of Asia Bibi and tortured her in her own home when area police arrived on scene and arrested her on charges of blasphemy. Asia Bibi was sent to District Jail Sheikhupura where she was kept in solitary confinement cell. In November 2010, Muhammed Naveed Iqbal, a judge at the court of Sheikhupura, Punjab, sentenced her to death by hanging. Additionally, a fine of the equivalent of $1,100 was imposed. An appeal was filed in Lahore High Court against death sentence to Asia Bibi by her husband Ashiq Masih which is still pending to hearing. Pope Benedict XVI and other international human right organization called for clemency for Asia Bibi on which fundamental Muslim elements created uproar and demanded death for Asia Bibi. The Islamists reaction was so furious that a “Fatwa” religious decree was issued by Muslim clerics to award 5 lacks of Pakistani rupees who will assassinate Asia Bibi. According to reports published in PCP after interview with some human right activists who succeeded to meet Asia Bibi in his Cell in District Jail Sheikhupura in year 2012, revealed that they found Islamic literature in her cell which Asia Bibi told that jail administration have provided her and one woman jail warden talks with her on Islam frequently. In June 2013, Asia Bibi was transferred to Multan Jail from Sheikhupura jail without any notice to her husband and attorney. Multan City is 183 miles from Sheikhupura city and transfer of Asia Bibi to Multan jail was to create problems of visitation for her family. Dr. Nazir Bhatti said “Higher Courts in Pakistan take Suo-Motto notices every day but have not time to hear appeal of Asia Bibi which creates doubts among Pakistani Christians that there are not any interests in urgent issues of them” Asia Bibi is in jail since 2009 and waiting for her appeal hearing till filing this report and no one knows when Pakistani Judges will spare time to listen voice of this voiceless Christian mother of five. Dr. Nazir Bhatti said that it seems that Punjab administration will brain wash Asia Bibi in Multan jail and force her to accept Islam as her religion and present her in any court for decleration. PCC Chief urged Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan to take note on situation of Asia Bibi in Multan jail and order to hear her pending appeal against her conviction.

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