Asia Bibi (also known as Asia Noreen), the Pakistani Christian woman convicted and sentenced to death in November 2010 for “blasphemy,” has contacted chickenpox in jail. On April 7, 2011 reports from the Masihi Foundation, a Pakistani charity which has been giving her legal assistance, reveal that she is ill with the disease.
She has spent almost two years in incarceration, separated from her husband and five children. The last three months have been spent in solitary confinement in Lahore, after she was the target of death threats. She was reportedly not in good health previously and was fasting for Lent. Now fears for her health have grown.
Asia News, in “Asia Bibi gravely ill, fears for her life, after three months in solitary isolation” Jibran Khan, April 7, 2011, reports that the Masihi Foundation, a charity based in Lahore, Pakistan, has confirmed that Asia Bibi is ill with chickenpox.
Haroon Barket Masih, president of the charity, describes her jail conditions: “Solitary confinement for more than three months...24 hours a day locked in the cell. She needs medical care, hygienic and healthy conditions. She fell ill with chickenpox because of the dirty environment, and being unable to clean her room or bed sheets on which she sleeps.”
Chickenpox is a viral disease, usually contacted in childhood. It is much more serious in adults and can be fatal. Those with compromised immune systems or who are otherwise weakened face serious risk. Pakistan is a high-risk country for major infectious disease.
Masih further describes the efforts to help Asia Bibi: “We are trying to arrange a medical examination, and to ensure acceptable hygienic conditions. Until now she has had no medical care. "
Murders of Pakistani Politicians who Supported Asia Bibi
Pakistan is a volatile country of rapidly shifting loyalties where minorities are especially at risk. Masih tells how this greatly worries Asia Bibi: “Despite her ill health she spends her time fasting and praying for everyone ... She is concerned about the current situation in Pakistan.”
Lahore, where Asia Bibi is held, is the capital city of the province of Punjab whose governor Salman Taseer was murdered on January 4, 2011. Taseer, a Muslim, had met with Asia Bibi and was working towards her release and the repeal of the blasphemy law. His self-confessed murderer was praised as a hero by crowds of Pakistanis, including lawyers. Following his murder, Asia Bibi, who already had a bounty on her head, was the target of new death threats, and she was put in solitary confinement as protection.
On March 2, 2011, another Pakistani politician was murdered: Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian who also opposed the blasphemy law was machine-gunned to death as he left his mother’s home.
According to the human rights group, International Christian Concern, another Christian prisoner Qamar David, serving a life sentence for “blasphemy,” was recently found dead in his jail cell raising concerns as to the manner of his death. In "Radical Muslims' Threat Prevent Journalists From Attending Funeral of Christian Man Who Died in Prison" March 18, 2011, by Jibran Khan, the bishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, Rufin Anthony, is quoted as saying,"We are concerned about the safety of minorities in Pakistan."
Pakistan is an Islamic State
The Pakistani population of 187 million is 95% Muslim. Being Muslim is a necessary qualification for being elected president, although 10% of the seats are reserved for non-Muslim members. There are remote tribal areas some of which are Taliban-controlled and follow Islamic law exclusively.
The CIA World Factbook, describes the Pakistani legal system as being based on English common law but with provisions to accommodate the country’s status as an Islamic state. The blasphemy law was introduced into Pakistan in the 1980s by then-President Zia ul-Haq in an effort to Islamize the country. It forbids any criticism of Islam.
Asia Bibi was found guilty of blaspheming Muhammad, the founder of Islam, under this law. Human rights observers maintain that any blasphemy law is unjust as it contravenes the basic freedoms of speech and religion.
Amnesty International: Shameful Blasphemy Laws
However, efforts to rescind this law have been violently protested. The ulema, Islamic clergy, of Pakistan is a significant political pressure group, according to the CIA Factbook. President Zardari has stated that he will not allow the blasphemy law to be changed.
The human rights organization, Amnesty International, urges the Pakistani government to act. In its news release "'Blasphemy' death sentence controversy another wakeup call for Pakistan government" November 30, 2010, it states: "Asia Bibi’s case is yet another wakeup call for the Pakistani government to deal with the religious extremism that is blowing great holes in the country... the Pakistan government has received wakeup call after wakeup call. When will it stop sleepwalking toward disaster, and fix the country’s shameful blasphemy laws?"
Today, under those same laws, Asia Bibi remains in jail sentenced to death by hanging , her poor health a growing concern.
Jen L. Jones - Based in Canada, Jones writes on human rights, history,and the natural world. She focuses also on Turkish and Scottish travel and ...
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