Earlier this month I reported that Christian mother Asia Bibi was receiving her final death sentence appeal before a Pakistan Supreme Court panel on her conviction in 2010 of blasphemy.
After several weeks of delays and threats by Islamists groups against the panel judges, the Supreme Court overturned her death sentence today and ordered her immediate release.
Bibi has been in prison since 2009, when a local cleric filed a complaint against her after a dispute between her and several Muslim women over her drinking from the same water cup.
In its 56-page decision, the court found that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Pakistan media reports indicate that Islamist groups are launching protests and blocking roads throughout the country in response to the court’s ruling. One prominent cleric has called for the army to rise up against the government, and one Islamist political party is calling for the ouster of the prime minister.
The BBC reports:
Chief Justice Saqib Nisarm, who read out the ruling, said Asia Bibi could walk free from jail in Sheikupura, near Lahore, immediately if not wanted in connection with any other case.
She was not in court to hear the ruling, but reacted to the verdict from prison with apparent disbelief.
“I can’t believe what I am hearing, will I go out now? Will they let me out, really?” AFP news agency quoted her as saying by phone […]
The judges said the prosecution had “categorically failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt”.
The case was based on flimsy evidence, they said, and proper procedures had not been followed. The alleged confession was delivered in front of a crowd “threatening to kill her”.
The ruling heavily referenced the Koran and Islamic history. It ended with a quote from the Hadith, the collected sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, which calls for non-Muslims to be treated kindly.
In a concurring opinion, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa directly challenged the veracity of the blasphemy charges:
Good to see J. Khosa in his powerful separate opinion questioning the negligence of the police, prosecutors and judges that allowed this injustice against #Asiabibi to take place
He also says circumstances of the case raise the possibility this was a false blasphemy allegation pic.twitter.com/jhFzLq3I4Y
— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) October 31, 2018
At least two government officials have been assassinated after speaking out in her case.
In January 2011, Punjab Governor Salman Taseer was murdered by his own bodyguard, Mumtaz Qadri, for calling for changes to blasphemy laws in response to Asia Bibi’s case.
In March 2011, Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian member of Pakistan’s cabinet, was shot and killed. His assassination was claimed by the Tehrik-i-Taliban, who said that they targeted Bhatti because of his opposition to the blasphemy law and threatened to kill anyone else who raised such challenges:
As supreme court struck down the death sentence for #AsiaBibi over false allegations of #blasphemy today, one remembers Salmaan Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti who stood by this poor woman and lost their lives in the process. pic.twitter.com/3loukaYvcv
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) October 31, 2018
After the October 8 panel hearing, thousands of supporters of the Islamist political party Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) rallied in Lahore and other cities demanding Bibi’s execution.
The TLP, which won two million votes in the elections last July and makes enforcing blasphemy laws one of their chief political issues, warned of “terrible consequences” the day after her appeal was heard.
They then threatened any judges who would be involved in acquitting Asia Bibi.
Even before today’s decision, their supporters were rallying, calling for Bibi’s execution:
Tehreek-e-Labbaik has already unleashed its goons on the streets of Karachi, demanding the execution of #AasiaBibi. The State must not allow itself to be intimidated by these fanatics… pic.twitter.com/TO8Bflh6kx
— Bilal Farooqi (@bilalfqi) October 30, 2018
One Islamic cleric closely associated with the TLP, Pir Afzal Qadri of the Aalmi Tanzeem Ahle Sunnat, issued a fatwa that any judge acquitting Asia Bibi should be punished by death.
Today, Qadri called on the army to rise up against their leadership:
Tehrike Labbaik's Afzal Qadri openly asks soldiers to rebel against Army Chief in the aftermath of #AsiaBibi's acquittal. Now will @OfficialDGISPR bother to take notice of this? https://t.co/xPMb0bVq0L
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) October 31, 2018
Reuters is reporting that the TLP has called for the ouster of newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan in response to the verdict.
The TLP has apparently launched simultaneous protests blocking roads in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faizabad and Karachi:
Soon after the verdict, people started gathering around Faizabad Interchange in #Rawalpindi and subsequently blocked it from all four sides. Roads surrounding Aabpara area in #Islamabad have also been closed by protesters.
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) October 31, 2018
Owing to prevalent law and order situation, everyone is advised to please restrict their movement for the next few hours. Faizabad, Aabpara, Barakahu and Kashmir Highway are blocked by protesters. We have arranged for alternate routes and will be shared soon
— Deputy Commissioner Islamabad (@dcislamabad) October 31, 2018
#Faizabad interchange Right now..!
They are very organized seems this was already Planned..!#AsiaBibi#Supremecourt pic.twitter.com/PAuIR02L2K
— Musa Raja (@MusaTweetx) October 31, 2018
According to reports on social media, TLP has blocked the ICI Bridge in Karachi near Tower.
Traffic jams have also been reported due to roadblocks on I.I Chundrigar road by angry demonstrators.
—
Follow our live blog for updates #AsiaBibi #protests https://t.co/LZ3mOcDfNz pic.twitter.com/Xb8GPhtvKs— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) October 31, 2018
The TLP has launched sit-ins in Lahore and Karachi:
TLP-led protests are being held in Lahore's Data Darbar area and Mall Road.
Another sit-in is being held outside the Punjab Assembly Hall in Lahore.
—
Follow our live blog for updates #AsiaBibi #protests https://t.co/LZ3mOcDfNz pic.twitter.com/nF8EgbRRiZ— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) October 31, 2018
In #Karachi, sit-ins are reportedly being held at Hub River Road which links Sindh to Balochistan, at Sohrab Goth which links Karachi to Hyderabad, Tower, Main MA Jinnah Road near Numaish Chowrangi, Orangi Town, Star Gate and other areas of the city.
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) October 31, 2018
Given the hostility and threats in response to today’s verdict, it is likely that Bibi and her family will need to seek asylum in another country.
Prime Minister Imran Khan also campaigned for enforcing blasphemy verdicts, so it remains to be seen how his government will respond to the escalating protests against today’s ruling.
And the Supreme Court’s decision doesn’t end the targeted use of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws against religious minorities.
In fact, just last week a learning disabled Christian man, Yaqoob Bashir Masih, was sentenced to life in prison for blasphemy after already being held for three years.
As Reuters observed last year, many of these cases never come to court because the accused are targeted for mob justice and lynchings. They reported that 66 people have been murdered over blasphemy accusations since 1990.
But for now, Asia Bibi’s nine-year legal ordeal appears to be over, though new problems, namely new threats against her life, now present themselves.
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