ICC Note:

The Archbishop of Australia has renewed calls for Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for allegedly committing blasphemy, to be released from prison in Pakistan. In 2009, Bibi was accused of blasphemy after a dispute with two Muslim coworkers. Since then, the case has become a lighting rod in Pakistan claiming the lives of two high ranking government officials that publicly supported Bibi. Pakistan’s blasphemy laws continue to be criticized as they are often abused to settle scores, for personal gain, or to incite religious hatred. 

5/16/2016 Pakistan (Episcopal Digital News) – The primate of Australia, Archbishop Philip Freier, has increased the pressure on Pakistan over their continued detention of Asia Bibi under the country’s much criticized blasphemy laws, by writing to Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Australia, Naela Chohan, and Australia’s Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, about the case.

Last month, members of the Anglican Consultative Council, meeting in Lusaka, called for a fresh investigation into her case, leading to her “honorable acquittal.” Asia Bibi was sentenced to death for blasphemy in 2010, after being accused of insulting the Muslim prophet Mohammed after she shared a drinking vessel with her Islamic colleagues.

“It is clear that a disgraceful application of Pakistan’s blasphemy law, 295c, has brought tragedy and shame upon [Asia Bibi] and indeed the beautiful nation of Pakistan,” Freier later wrote on his blog, in an article republished by ACNS.

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