More Than Half A Million People Sign Petition To Save Christian Mother Asia Bibi From Death Sentence

Asia Bibi (R) was sentenced to death by hanging in 2010 after being accused by her former colleagues of blaspheming against the Prophet Mohammad. Reuters

More than 540,000 people have now signed a petition urging the Pakistani government not to execute the Christian mother of five sentenced to death for blasphemy.

Asia Bibi's final appeal was postponed earlier this month.

In a post on its website updating the case, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), the advocacy group behind the petition, says: "Several weeks ago, we sent an emergency advocacy letter to Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States demanding Pakistan free Asia Bibi—the Christian mother of five currently on death row in Pakistan.

"This week we sent a second letter to Ambassador Jilani. In this letter, we expressed our dismay with the Supreme Court of Pakistan's decision to further delay justice for Asia by postponing her appeal hearing. Again, we urged the Ambassador to do everything in his power to advocate for Asia's freedom."

More than half a million people have now signed the petition, titled: "Save Christian Mom Asia Bibi from Execution".

Bibi was falsely accused of blasphemy – speaking against the prophet Mohammad – and if she loses her appeal, will be executed by hanging.

The petition says: "She would be the first woman executed under Pakistan's Shariah blasphemy law. This is the ultimate human rights violation."

The ACLJ is mobilising its international affiliate – the European Centre for Law and Justice – and its partner in Pakistan to free Bibi.

In its latest letter to Ambassador Jilani, the ACLJ says: "This further delay in Asia's case is unacceptable. As we stated before, Asia's arrest, imprisonment, and death sentence violate international agreements Pakistan has ratified without reservations."

Bibi has already spent seven years in prison waiting for the final outcome of her case.

The majority of blasphemy cases in Pakistan are based on false accusations, followed by faulty investigations and trials full of errors – and it is accepted worldwide that this is what happened in Bibi's case.

The ACLJ says: "Asia's only crime was affirming her faith in Jesus Christ. Her firm stand for her Christian faith has cost her dearly. Her case is a controversial one, with radical Islamic clerics calling for her to be hanged.

"This controversy, however, does not excuse Pakistan from honoring its international and domestic legal obligations. Asia is still on death row, her fate is still uncertain, and Pakistan's Supreme Court has yet to reschedule her hearing. In the face of this uncertainty, we are a constant -- working continuously to advocate for Asia's freedom."

News
Poverty and destitution is driving our mental health crisis - and Christians must act
Poverty and destitution is driving our mental health crisis - and Christians must act

We must acknowledge Britain’s shameful poverty crisis as the major driver of mental illness in this country, says ex-gangster turned bishop.

MSP wants to expand Scotland's controversial abortion buffer zones
MSP wants to expand Scotland's controversial abortion buffer zones

Perhaps one day all of Scotland will be a buffer zone.

Why the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed matters
Why the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed matters

You might be wondering: what does a fourth-century church meeting have to do with me today? Actually, quite a lot.

Calvin Robinson loses priest licence after just 9 days in new denomination
Calvin Robinson loses priest licence after just 9 days in new denomination

The Reformed Episcopal Church has withdrawn its licence from Fr Calvin Robinson, the second such incident in the life of the controversial cleric in just five months.