Scottish Catholic Observer

by Clare Louise McKenna

In her heartfelt plea she declared, “Pope Francis, I am your daughter, Asia Bibi. I implore you: pray for me, for my salvation and for my freedom. At this point I can only entrust (myself) to God Almighty who can do anything for me.”

Ms Bibi allegedly made offensive comments towards the prophet Muhammad during an argument with some Muslim neighbours in 2010. The insulting remarks were made after neighbours refused to share the water Ms Bibi had carried; they believed it was unclean because she was a Christian. Bibi has maintained her innocence and believes these women wanted to punish her for her Christian faith. She has spent the past four years in prison and is the first woman in Pakistan’s history to be given the death sentence for blasphemy.

In her letter to the Holy Father (above), which was made public by Vatican Insider, Bibi expresses, “I am holding tightly onto my Christian faith and trust that God my father will defend me and give me back my freedom. I also trust in you, Holy Father Francis, and in your prayers.”

The Lahore High Court who convicted the mother has rejected Bibi’s appeal against her death sentence and her lawyers warned that local influential Muslims were pressuring the court to uphold the death sentence.

Ms Bibi added, “Pope Francis, I know you are praying for me with all your heart. I know that thanks to your prayer, I could be set free. In the name of the Almighty Father and his Glory, I thank you for your support in this moment of suffering and disappointment.”

“My only hope is that I will one day be able to see my family reunited and happy again. I believe that God will not abandon me and that he has a plan of happiness and wellbeing for me which will come into being very soon. I am grateful to all Christians across the world who are praying for me and doing everything to help me.”

Bibi also thoroughly praised the Renaissance Education Foundation in Lahore who she is thankful to for “providing support to my husband Ashiq and my family. May God illuminate and bring wisdom to all those who are working on my case.”

Joseph Nadeem who heads the foundation that is providing help and support to Bibi’s family announced that the defence is still waiting to hear the reasons for the High Court’s verdict so that they can work out where they went wrong.

Mr Nadeem commented, “We were very confident that the decision of the High Court was going to turn in Asia Bibi’s favour so the verdict came as a huge blow,”

Bibi’s case has caused international hysteria and seen many politicians and international human rights organisations get involved. Bibi’s husband, Ashiq Masih, is worried that several Muslim mobs pose a danger to the family who have been forced into hiding over fear of their lives. Mr Masih commented, “This is too dangerous for all of us. We have changed five residences during the last five years. The blasphemy accusation on my wife has ruined our family.”