Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – The women of Pakistan, Christians and Muslims, have taken to the streets to show their support and solidarity with Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy. Yesterday, inform Fides sources, in Nankana (the city of Asia Bibi) women demonstrated in the street in front of the buildings of government institutions to spread public awareness and demand the release of the woman. Among the groups organizing the march was the Pakistani Catholic Women Organization that has operated in agreement with several Muslim organizations that defend women's rights. Pakistani women are making hopeful appeals to the authoritative figure of Asma Jahangir, a well-known Muslim lawyer who recently became the first woman to head the Bar Association of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Rosemary Noel, coordinator of the national Catholic women's group, told Fides: "The Asia Bibi case causes us great concern and creates profound suffering - especially because it is the conviction of an innocent person to death. We call on all institutions for her immediate release. We are working with other civil society associations in a forum called MUMKIN (which in Urdu means "Make it possible,") and there is a meeting scheduled at the national level on November 22. We want to find all the ways we can to save Asia."
"In her case – the coordinator told Fides - there was no serious investigation of either the police or the court. Unfortunately, it is a power play of the strong who crush the weak. In Pakistan, rulers have a strong influence on the security forces and the courts, especially trial courts. The sentences are not transparent and clearly unjust. In addition, there is the strength of the majority that crushes the minorities and Christians suffer doubly."
Saman Wazdani, Muslim human rights activist, tells Fides: "The women of Pakistan are taking action: the case of Asia Bibi nags at our conscience. There is an urgent need to repeal the blasphemy law. But there is also a serious problem in the national legal system: trial courts are left to themselves. They have old structures that are not transparent and they often interpret the law incorrectly. We urgently need a comprehensive judicial reform, although in the higher courts the situation is much better."
One ray of hope, Pakistani women tell Fides, is the involvement of Asma Jahangir who, in the past, has often ruled against the Hudood Ordinances and against blasphemy law. Asma - who received education in Catholic schools - is known for defending the rights of minorities, a commitment that has even led her to receive death threats. Since 2004, Asma Jahangir is the UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Freedom and one of the founders of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. In her career, she has always fought against discrimination and violence against women. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 16/11/2010)
