29th October, 2014
The head of the World Council of Churches has expressed his "great concern" after a Pakistan court earlier this month rejected an appeal against a death sentence for a Christian woman convicted under the country’s controversial blasphemy laws.
Rev Dr Olav Fyske Tveit said in a statement issued from the WCC headquarters in Geneva on Monday that the alleged circumstances which led to the blasphemy charges against Asia Bibi, a mother of five who has been on death row since late 2010, are "highly questionable" and called imposition of the death penalty "totally inappropriate".
"Apart from the issues of religious freedom, the charges, on-going imprisonment and threat of execution seem to have infringed Ms Bibi”s basic human rights," he said.
Rev Dr Tveit expressed his "strong hope" that the Pakistan Supreme Court will reverse the decision from the lower court and noted his concern for the safety and welfare of Ms Bibi and her family both while the matter is before the courts and after what he hoped would be her eventual release – a matter he said was the "clear responsibility" of the Government of Pakistan.
He said the blasphemy law under which Ms Bibi was convicted had "been recognised as flawed" and had been abused in its use against both members of religious minority groups and Muslims.
"I look forward to encouraging people of good will, both in Pakistan and in the wider world, to work together to encourage the amendment in the blasphemy law under which such charges have been made against Asia Bibi," he said.
"The protection of the rights of all citizens regardless of their religious affiliation is a responsibility of the Pakistani government, as is putting an end to human rights violations and extra-judicial killings associated with the blasphemy law. To promote tolerance, religious harmony and protection of rights of Christians as well as other religious minorities in Pakistan, it is important to ensure justice in cases like that of Asia Bibi."
– DAVID ADAMS
