Pakistan's president will pardon Christian woman, official says

[LeftishBrit]

Source: CNN

Islambad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will pardon a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy, the governor of Punjab state told CNN Tuesday....

Asia Bibi, who has been jailed for nearly 15 months, was convicted in a Pakistani court earlier this month of breaking the country's controversial blasphemy law by insulting Islam's Prophet Mohammed, a crime punishable with death or life imprisonment, according to Pakistan's penal code. She was sentenced to death.
...
A preliminary investigation showed Bibi was falsely accused, a government official said Monday...

Bibi's death sentence sparked outrage among human rights groups, who condemned Pakistan's blasphemy law as a source of violence and persecution against religious minorities.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/23/pakistan.christian/?hpt=T2

---

Glad to hear this. Sad that she was ever in danger. Blasphemy laws are disgusting; the death sentence for blasphemy even more so.

[AsahinaKimi]

1. This is great news..

I felt bad for her young daughters..who would miss their mom. :cry:

[Bragi]

2. Not clear what this means

I think we need to wait and see on this. I hope she is now free and clear, but that isn't certain at this point, according to a story today from a UK-based Pakistani Christian news service:

Blasphemy woman's family in hiding ahead of possible Presidential pardon - Release International

UK: November 23, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)

The family of Asia Bibi has gone into hiding ahead of reports of her imminent pardon for the death sentence for blasphemy in Pakistan.

Partners of Release International say there has been an angry reaction from Muslim militants following media coverage of a possible presidential stay of execution. Fearing a violent backlash Asia’s family has moved to a place of safety...

While the President may decide to grant a stay of execution, it is still not clear whether the blasphemy charges will be dropped. Unless the charges are waived, Asia could remain behind bars for years.

Whatever the outcome, Asia’s life is still at risk. Following media reports of her pardon, her accusers have given warning that they will take the law into their own hands. Muslims in her village in Ittanwali District, Nankana, insist that Asia is guilty. They say if the courts will not carry out the death sentence, they will kill her themselves.

http://pakistanchristian.tv/news/2010-11-23_Blasphemy_womans_family_in_hiding_ahead_of_possible_Presidential_pardon__Re.cfm

[burnsei sensei]

3. I think things might be better if

she and her family can be given refuge somewhere in the West.

[Bragi]

4. Agreed /nt