Tuesday, January 24, 2012

In the News - Asia Bibi sentenced to DEATH


Asia Bibi
In Pakistan, 45 year Asia Bibi has been handed a death sentence for supposed blaphemy of Islam. She claims she is being persecuted for being a Christian. A year ago govenor Taseer of the Punjab state was murdered by one of his body guards for coming to her defense. A little later Minister of Minority Affairs Bhatti was assasinated for the same reason.
How it started was Mrs. Bibi was working on a farm with Muslim women. They sent her to fetch water then refused to drink because it was "conatminted" by her unclean (non-Muslim) hands. They then gathered a mob against her and clerics arrived who began to call for her death claiming she had blasphemed. Someone had notified the police who rescued her but then charged her with blasphemy.
Her verdict is on appeal, hoping to get the conviction thrown out on the basis that she wasn't given a lawyer. She has already been beat in prison at least once. Some speculate the government would prefer she die in prison soon so as not have to deal with either world opinion or the Islamists who want her killed.
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; John 15:20