People from around the globe were shocked recently when a Pakistani woman, Asia Noreen, was sentenced to death by a judge in the Nankana Sahib district for blasphemy. It is believed the judge was placed under fierce pressure from Muslim extremists to deliver this decision. The verdict was delivered under Pakistan’s controversial “blasphemy” statute, which carries a death or life imprisonment sentence, yet research has shown that up to 80 percent of blasphemy charges filed are used to settle personal scores.
Noreen is the first woman to be sentenced to death under this law for allegedly defaming Islam. Among other allegations, Noreen was accused of denying that Muhammad was a prophet.
“How can we expect a Christian to affirm a Muslim belief?” her lawyer, Chaudhry Tahir Shahzad said. He added that he and fellow lawyer Manzoor Qadir had filed an appeal against the verdict in the Lahore High Court.
In an interview with Compass, Asia’s husband, Ashiq Masih, said that his wife has been incarcerated in horrific conditions since June of 2009 after she fell into an argument with fellow field workers in Ittanwali village. These workers were trying to convince her to renounce Christianity and apparently strong words were exchanged. The women told Muslim cleric Muhammad Salim about the June 14 incident, and he filed a case with police on June 19, 2009. On that day (June 19), Masih said, the Muslim women suddenly raised a commotion, accusing Noreen of defaming Muhammad.
“Several Muslim men working in the nearby fields reached the spot and forced their way into our house, where they tortured Asia and the children,” said Masih, who confirmed that his wife is 45 years old and that they have five children – four girls and a boy, the oldest daughter 20.
Police arrived and took his wife into custody, presumably for her own protection, he said.
“They saved Asia’s life, but then later a case was registered against her under Sections 295-B and C [blaspheming the Quran and Muhammad, respectively] at the Nankana police station on the complaint of Muhammad Salim, the local imam [prayer leader] of the village,” he said. “Asia has been convicted on false charges. We have never, ever insulted the prophet Muhammad or the Quran.”
Human rights groups have long been critical of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws as being too easily manipulated to settle grudges or oppress religious minorities. No one has yet been executed for blasphemy in Pakistan, as most are freed on appeal after suffering for years under appalling prison conditions.