ICC Note:

Christian leaders in Pakistan are hopeful that Asia Bibi’s final Supreme Court appeal with end in acquittal. Last week, news broke that Pakistan’s Supreme Court was going to schedule Bibi’s final appeal for the second week of October. This appeal represents Bibi’s final chance to avoid execution for allegedly committing blasphemy in 2009. The blasphemy charges and court battle against Bibi are indicative of how Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are often abused, especially against religious minorities. Will Pakistan actually acquit Bibi when they hear her appeal 6 years after sentencing her to death?

8/30/2016 Pakistan (The Christian Times) – Asia Bibi’s appeal is set to be heard in the Supreme Court this October and Catholic Church officials are hopeful that she will be acquitted. Bibi, a Christian accused of blasphemy, was sentenced to death in 2010 but her execution was postponed by Pakistan’s top court.

Bibi, a mother of five, was charged with blasphemy by her co-workers in 2009 when she allegedly drank water meant only for Muslims. Saif-ul-Malook, a Muslim, took over as her attorney when her former lawyer, a Christian, lost the case in the High Court. Her new lawyer is optimistic about the case even though he already received threats.

“I have high hopes that she will be released. I have been threatened as well but I knew what I was jumping into,” he told UCA News.

Last April, the Islamist group Pakistan Sunni Tehreek demanded the execution of Bibi. Father Joseph Louis, former executive secretary of Caritas Pakistan, said the outcome of the case is difficult to predict because the authorities are afraid of the extremists.

“The rulers are afraid of fanatics and only want to escape any blame. They don’t care for the innocent. We can only pray and ask for the Holy Spirit to convince the judges,” Louis told UCA News.

…