A Christian woman from Pakistan acquitted on blasphemy charges in December has moved to a safe house after death threats.
Agnus Bibi (not to be confused with Asia Bibi, who is on death row for blasphemy and unrelated), is a 56-year-old mother of five from Faisalabad and a nurse. She was accused of blasphemy after a property dispute turned sour. A property developer levelled the accusation against her after failing to intimidate her.
He had her attacked and beaten up and when she complained to the police, the developer accused her of blasphemy. Police arrested Agnus Bibi and also charged her with promoting enmity between different groups.
After almost three years, she was finally acquitted, having suffered death threats, illhealth and imprisonment, and being driven deeply into debt to fight the case. No witnesses were ever brought forward to testify against her.
She was freed after a legal campaign by partners of UK-based Release International, which serves the persecuted church worldwide.
Settling scores
It is not uncommon for accusations of blasphemy to be made in Pakistan as a way of removing rivals or settling scores. It can result in the accused spending years behind bars. Even when charges are dropped, the innocent victims of these allegations can find themselves targeted by militants.
Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Federal Shariat Court ordered the government to impose a mandatory death sentence for blasphemy. Subject to presidential approval, the move represents a significant push towards hard-line Islamic law in Pakistan.
It could result in the execution of those who have been falsely accused of blasphemy. Release International warns it could encourage extremists to carry out further attacks against the country’s Christian minority.
On December 3, a UK parliamentary debate about the persecution of Christians heard that the abuse of the blasphemy law was underpinning discrimination and violence against the Christian minority in Pakistan.
Christians convicted of blasphemy include Asia Bibi. Asia, a farm labourer from Punjab, is the first Christian woman to be sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy. She was accused after an argument with other labourers, who refused to drink water she had provided because they considered the Christian to be unclean. Asia, who denies the charge, was first detained in 2009. She remains on death row awaiting appeal.
