The allegations were reported to authorities five years after the ostensible incident, evidence was scant, and the narratives of the purported witnesses were weak and not too consistent.
Such scenarios are not uncommon where Islam prevails. Aged fifty, Asia Bibi is the mother of five, and was sent to
death row for allegedly denigrating the Prophet Muhammad during an argument with a Muslim colleague over a cup of water. Her lawyer argued that lower courts wrongly overlooked the five-day delay between the incident and the police report filed by a local imam, who wasn’t present at the argument.
Pakistan is exemplary of many Islamic republics, which routinely sentence people to death for ‘blasphemy’ - but the definition of that word is stretched very thin. Mere accusations often suffice for conviction. The possession of a New Testament book, or attendance at any non-Muslim religious gathering, can easily be interpreted as ‘blasphemous.’
Jews, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and others are executed, imprisoned, or beaten for the simple fact that they are not Muslims.
These people are, in effect, punished for thinking.
In the case of Asia Bibi, diplomatic pressure from Europe and North America may yet have an effect. The Pakistani supreme court may hear an appeal of her conviction. Perhaps she will be allowed to live.
