PRAY: Pakistani woman sentenced to death

Asia Bibi and her family

VOM sources are reporting that Asia Bibi, a Christian mother-of-two, has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani court for blasphemy. She is the first Pakistani woman ever to receive this sentence for blasphemy.

Yesterday, a court judge gave Asia the maximum sentence at the end of a trial that lasted more than 16 months. Asia, a farm labourer in her late 30s from Ittanwali, Punjab province, was also fined more than the equivalent of an average worker’s two-and-a-half years’ salary. The decision comes as a crushing blow to Asia and her family as well as all Pakistani believers and those who have been praying for Asia’s release.

Police first filed a case against Asia in June 2009, after her local Muslim co-workers accused her of making derogatory comments against Islam’s prophet, Mohammed. VOM first reported on this story on June 24, 2009, and wrote an update last week about Asia languishing in prison.

Please pray for a reversal of the court ruling. Pray that God would soften the hearts of those in charge of Asia’s case. Pray God's perfect peace that surpasses all human understanding over Asia and her family.

Want to do more? You can voice your concern by sending emails directly to the offices of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Abdullah Hussain Haroon, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations.

Office of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari

ambassador@embassyofpakistanusa.org

Abdullah Hussain Haroon, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations

pakistan@un.int

For more information about writing to government officials, download a PDF of VOM’s letter-writing guide and prisoner list, “Doing time for God.”