ICC Note:

The family of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, says that having the Supreme Court acquit their wife and mother would be a “miracle”. Bibi has been on death row since she was convicted of blasphemy in 2010. The charge against Bibi originates from a dispute between Bibi and Muslim coworkers in 2009. Bibi’s Muslim coworkers claim that she blasphemed the prophet Muhammad during a dispute that started after Bibi, a Christian, used a “Muslim watering bowl”. Will Thursday’s Supreme Court hearing bring about a miracle for Bibi’s family? 

10/10/2016 Pakistan (The Express Tribune) – The world may be abuzz with the news that Pakistan’s Supreme Court will take up Aasia Bibi’s petition later this week, but the 51-year-old Christian woman – who had been sentenced to death on charges of alleged blasphemy in 2010 – is not even aware of it yet.

Locked in a high security prison cell in Multan, Aasia’s only contact with the outside world is her family.

“We haven’t told her about the hearing in the Supreme Court yet,” Aasia’s husband, 52-year-old Ashiq Masih, told The Express Tribune. “In the prison where she lives alone, it is very dangerous to lose hope.”

“Her expectations will be raised when she gets to know about the hearing. So we haven’t told her yet,” Ashiq added. However, Aasia’s husband and their five children are anxiously waiting and praying for her release. This, they say, will be no less than a miracle for them.

Ashiq, who once lived happily with his family in the Ittanwali village of Nankana Saheb, has not returned to his hometown since Aasia was accused of blaspheming.

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