Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan ‘for blasphemy’
A Christian woman has been sentenced to hang in Pakistan after being convicted of defaming the Prophet Mohammed.
Asia Bibi, a 45-year-old mother-of-five, denies blasphemy and told investigators that she was being persecuted for her faith in a country where Christians face routine harassment and discrimination.
Christian groups and human rights campaigners condemned the verdict and called for the blasphemy laws to be repealed.
I don’t know if this is for real or not (it’s the Telegraph, after all), but it makes no sense. Of course Christians blaspheme against Muslims. And Muslims against Christians. And everybody against everybody.
Every religion that makes exclusivist claims automatically and constantly blasphemes every other religion, by implying that those other religions are untrue.
I just hope it doesn’t get this person killed. Just another reason why blasphemy laws have no place in a world where ideas can be exchanged freely and openly.
11 November 2010 at 12:50 am
There's actually more to this story too.
The woman had been held in isolation for more than a year before that sentence was handed down, and that was after she was almost killed by an angry mob. And prior to that, she'd collected some water for a group only to have some of the members refuse to drink it because it was "unclean" Christian water.
Their craziness knows no limits.
11 November 2010 at 4:06 am
I've seen the Christian water they have sitting in bowls in cathedrals. I wouldn't drink it either.