Category — Asia Bibi

Church Leaders and Government officials pay Tributes to
Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan Federal Minister for Minorities
at a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving

CANDLES were lit in S. Margaret’s Church, next to Westminster Abbey, in London on Thursday 17th March 2011 at 6.30pm in memory of murdered Federal Minister for Minorities in Pakistan, Mr Shahbaz Bhatti. Church Leaders Including the Archbishop of Canterbury and a Catholic Bishop representing the Archbishop of Westminster, the High Commissioner For Pakistan, a Government Minister, MP’s and Lords attended the Service.

In his sermon the Bishop of Pontefract said: “Our tribute to Shahbaz and our resolve will be to follow his love of truth and justice. Not limited by fear in the face of adversity and persecution. And having the courage to continue his work to fight against discrimination, intolerance and religious disharmony, and to cherish the idea of a multifaith society in which all persons would live together in harmony with equal opportunities.”

Canon Yaqub Masih who met with Mr Bhatti when he went with a delegation in December 2009 on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury said in his tribute: ,

“Shahbaz lived his life fighting for the rights of minorities in Pakistan saying he had decided to give his life to serve others, as he believed Christ had done for him. He is a martyr for his faith. Sadly his Christian principles were the very thing that caused his death. Those who killed him used the gun to silence him rather than enter into open debate and discussion. He is not with us today but his memories will always remain with us. His principles ,his Values and his fight for the rights of the minorities in Pakistan. I pray to God that he will raise other leaders like Shahbaz Bhatti who will stand for every citizen of Pakistan and make Pakistan a better and more peaceful Country to live in. ”

Mr. Masih also read tribute on behalf of the retired Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry, who could not attend the service due to personal reasons wrote in his tribute: “Shahbaz Bhatti has left us shattered, shocked, heartbroken and angry. The religious minorities in Pakistan have lost a bold and courageous leader. who despite all threats and warnings continued to fearlessly raise a voice against discrimination and religious intolerance. As for me, my loss goes beyond all the above – i have lost a son.”

Tributes were also given by Mr. Alistair Burt Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Bishop Alexander Malik, Bishop of Lahore who had flown to England for the service.

The candle lit service was organised by the Bishop of Pontefract, the Rt Rev. Tony Robinson and Lay Canon Yaqub Masih (Chairman of Pakistan Christian Concern).

CANDLES will be lit in Huddersfield on Friday night in memory of murdered Pakistani Minorities Minister, Mr Shahbaz Bhatti.

The Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Rev Stephen Platten and the Bishop of Pontefract, the Rt Rev Tony Robinson last night condemned the assassination of Mr Bhatti who visited this Diocese just last September to talk about the plight of minorities in his country and to meet with Asian Christian groups here.

Bishop Tony, who chairs the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Pakistan Focus Group said the local Asian Christian community were deeply saddened by his death and wanted to mark this terrible tragedy.

“It was a great shock to wake up this morning to hear he had been murdered in cold blood by extremists just days after being sworn in the new Government of Pakistan, “ said Bishop Tony.

“He worked tirelessly as a Christian for minorities and spoke out in favour of the repeal and reform of the blasphemy laws which were used so arbitrarily against Christians.

“His death will not stop the calls for justice and freedom of speech which is the right of every human being,” he added.

On Friday evening a memorial service to remember his life and work will be held at St Cuthbert’s, Birkby, Huddersfield for the local Asian Christian community and later this month, a service of remembrance is expected to be held in London.

Mr Yaqub Masih, President of the UK Pakistan Christian Concern said: “It is a very black day for the freedom of minorities in Pakistan when a Christian is martyred for standing up for human rights and freedom of speech.

“We pray for Mr Bhatti and his family and supporters at this difficult time,” he added.

Pakistani Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian who opposed the country’s controversial “blasphemy law“, has been shot dead in Islamabad.

He died after gunmen opened fire on his car as he was travelling to work this morning (2 March). The Pakistani Taliban told BBC Urdu they carried out the attack, and pamphlets attributed to them and al-Qaeda were found at the scene. They warned that anyone who criticised the blasphemy law would be shot.

Mr Bhatti (42) had received death threats for urging reform of the blasphemy law and because of his support for Christian mother-of-five Aasia Bibi, who was sentenced to death under it last November. But he remained defiant, saying last month, “I have been told by pro-Taliban religious extremists that if I will continue to speak against the blasphemy law, I will be beheaded.” But he said his faith gave him strength:

As a Christian, I believe Jesus is my strength. He has given me a power and wisdom and motivation to serve suffering humanity. I follow the principles of my conscience, and I am ready to die and sacrifice my life for the principles I believe.

Mr Bhatti’s death comes just three weeks after he retained his ministerial position in a major government reshuffle – a decision that Pakistani Christians hailed as “astounding”. It also follows the assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, a Muslim, who was gunned down by one of his own bodyguards in January because he also had spoken out against the blasphemy law and supported Aasia Bibi.

MP Sherry Rehman, a Muslim, who put forward an amendment in parliament that sought to abolish the death penalty for defiling the name of Muhammad, has also received multiple death threats. She was forced to withdraw the private member’s bill last month.

In the wake of a hostile Islamist backlash to proposed amendments, the government has repeatedly stated that it has no plans to change the law.

LAHORE, Pakistan, January 19 (CDN) — A mother of five sentenced to death on “blasphemy” charges has lived in constant fear since the killing of Punjab Gov. Salman Taseer, her husband told Compass as he came out of Sheikhupura District Jail after meeting with her last week.

Ashiq Masih said his wife, Asia Noreen (alternatively spelled Aaysa, and also called Asia Bibi), is “very afraid.” Her conviction triggered a violent chain of events in Pakistan, including the Jan. 4 murder of Taseer by his bodyguard after the governor voiced support for her.

“She knows the Muslims have announced a prize on her head and would go to any lengths to kill her,” a visibly nervous Masih told Compass. “The governor’s murder in broad daylight has put her in a state of paranoia.”

He added that threats by Islamist extremists have dampened Noreen’s hope of getting justice from the Lahore High Court, where her appeal against the conviction has been filed but yet to be taken up.

Wearing a dark cloak to hide his identity, Masih was visibly nervous after meeting with her on Jan. 11.

“She was asking me about the situation outside,” he said. “I tried to console her, but she knows it’s really bad. She’s also worried about the children.”

The mother of two children and stepmother to three others, Noreen asked him to appeal for more prayers for her, he said.

“Please tell everyone to pray for her,” he said.

Masih said prison authorities had improved Noreen’s security considerably after Taseer’s killing.

“She’s being kept in a separate cell with a warden deployed 24 hours for her security,” he said. “Only I am allowed to meet her, but even I am searched completely before they bring her out for the meeting. I just hope and pray she keeps safe inside the prison.”

Still, prison officials have reportedly said she will be transferred to another prison soon because of security concerns.

The female warden tasked with Noreen’s security the day Taseer was killed told Compass of the Christian woman’s reaction to the news.

“I was escorting her for her routine walk on the evening Governor Taseer was gunned down,” said the warden, who requested anonymity. “We were passing by a barrack when the news broke out on TV that the governor was dead … She stood there in shock for some time, and then she started screaming and crying.”

The warden added that she helped Noreen back to her cell, “as she could barely walk and kept weeping.”

“She cried all evening and also refused to have supper,” the warden said. “The governor’s killing shattered her. The governor’s visit had boosted her morale – she was very happy and every time I spoke to her, I could feel the joy in her heart. She shared with me how she had lost hope, and how God had sent Taseer to help her. A particular verse that she often repeats is from John 14:1, which says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me.”

The warden said she was assigned Noreen’s security following reports that attempts would be made to kill her inside the jail. Since Taseer’s killing, she said, Noreen has grown suspicious of everyone around her.

“She’s only taken out of her cell for an hour, but even then she is fearful of her surroundings, even though all the other inmates are locked up before she’s taken out for exercise,” she said. “One can imagine how insecure she must be feeling after Taseer was killed by one of his own guards.”

Sheikhupura District Jail Superintendent Sheikh Khalid, who recently assumed charge, told Compass that Noreen was the most “high value” inmate of the prison and that he was not going to take any chances regarding her security.

“She is on the hit list of several extremist organizations,” he said, “and there are reports that she might be targeted inside the jail – moreover, she has a 30 million rupee [US$350,000] prize on her head. This is enough incentive for anyone to kill her.”

He said the prison had enhanced its security measures, and additional forces have been employed to guard the premises at night.

“No one except her husband can meet her,” Khalid said. “I have also directed her not to eat anything given to her by any person other than the wardens deployed for her security. We are trying our best to keep her safe, but life and death are in the hands of Allah.”

Noreen’s lawyer, S.K. Chaudhry, declined to discuss the future course of legal action because of the sensitive nature of the case.

Noreen has been condemned to death for insulting Islam’s prophet, Muhammad, a charge she denies. A week after her conviction, the governor of Punjab province visited her in jail. Taseer, a liberal Muslim, did not mince words as he assured Noreen of his support. He told her he believed that the charges against her were fabricated and that there had been a miscarriage of justice. He promised that he would recommend a presidential pardon for her.

During that visit, he called Pakistan’s blasphemy statutes “a black law” and called for their repeal – a demand that ultimately resulted in his brutal killing, as one of his own police bodyguards believed that Taseer had blasphemed by criticizing the law.

Masih, Noreen’s husband, said he was about to have lunch when he first heard the news of the killing of Taseer on TV.

“I had taken the first bite when the news flashed that Governor Taseer had been killed,” he said. “I was stunned, couldn’t swallow the food either … no words can explain that moment.”

He denied government reports that it was providing his family security, saying they were living in a safe-house arranged by “some friends” and surviving on money provided by Christian organizations. Taseer’s murder, he added, had shaken the little confidence the family had after the governor’s assurance of support to them.

“They killed the governor for supporting her,” he said. “He died for us, but it seems his sacrifice has gone in vain.”

Pakistan: Murder of governor darkens ‘blasphemy’ case
The case of Asia Bibi, the first Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan on blasphemy charges, suffered a major setback on 4 January when her most vocal supporter, the governor of Punjab Province, was gunned down by one of his police bodyguards in Islamabad.

The bodyguard, Malik Mumtaz Hussein Qadri, told police that he killed Governor Salman Taseer because of the governor’s opposition to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.

Asia’s life has been at risk ever since the governor highlighted her case following a visit to her in Sheikhupura District Jail on 22 November, according to Sohail Johnson of Sharing Life Ministries Pakistan, which has pursued Asia’s case from the onset. Taseer had openly criticised the blasphemy statutes and vowed to try to repeal them in parliament. He also promised Asia that he would recommend a presidential pardon for her.

“The local Islamist forces believed that President Zardari would pardon Asia on Taseer’s recommendation, and this was unacceptable to them,” said Johnson, confirming that intelligence agencies had determined that Islamists had plotted to kill Asia inside jail to make an example of her.

Taseer and Asia were declared “Wajibul Qatil” (liable to be killed) by radical Islamic clerics. A cleric in Peshawar and a local politician in Multan offered a combined sum of 50 million rupees (US$579,300) for anyone who killed Taseer and Asia.

Taseer, however, continued to publicly vent his opposition – even using Twitter – to the blasphemy laws, which effectively mandate death for anyone convicted of insulting Muhammad. On 31 December, Taseer had tweeted: “I was under huge pressure 2 cow down b4 rightest pressure on blasphemy. Refused. Even if I’m the last man standing.”

Hopes diminished
Taseer’s support for Asia had given new hope to the impoverished mother of five – and drew violent condemnation from Islamist forces, sparking countrywide protests. “The governor’s visit gave us hope that all was not lost,” said Johnson. “We believed that God had sent the governor to help us… his words of support boosted Asia’s morale, and she was actually quite optimistic about the outcome of her appeal in the high court.”

Johnson said that the murder of Taseer in broad daylight had shocked all those opposing the blasphemy laws, and that ‘there is little hope of these laws ever being repealed’.

He added that Asia’s appeal of her conviction had yet to be taken up for hearing by the Lahore High Court, but the murder would definitely affect the course of justice. “The governor’s brutal murder has diminished our hopes for justice for Asia.”

Her family has been in hiding since Islamist parties started protests in favour of the blasphemy laws.