Woman sentenced to death for 'cursing' Mohammed makes final appeal

oge okonkwo

November 25, 2014 3:16 PM

50-year-old Bibi Asia, a mother-of-five, has been on death row since November 2010 after she was convicted of insulting Mohammed during a row with Muslim co-workers over a bowl of water

A Christian woman on death row in Pakistan for blasphemy has made a final appeal to her conviction for insulting the Prophet Mohammed four years ago.

50-year-old Bibi Asia, a mother-of-five, has been on death row since November 2010 after she was convicted of insulting Mohammed during a row with Muslim co-workers over a bowl of water.

Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in majority Muslim Pakistan country, with even unproven allegations often prompting mob violence.

In a open letter, Bibi made a passionate appeal to her supporters begging them not to desert her just yet.

Bibi's message from jail read: 'My prison cell has no windows and day and night are the same to me, but if I am still holding on today it is thanks to everyone who is trying to help me. When my husbnd showed me the photographs of people I have never met drinking a glass of water for me, my heart overflowed.

'Ashiq told me that the city of Paris is offering to welcome our family. I send my deepest thanks to you Madam Mayor, and to all the kind people of Paris and across the world.

'You are my only hope of staying alive in this dungeon, so please don’t abandon me. I did not commit blasphemy.'

But a high court in the eastern city of Lahore confirmed the death sentence of Asia Bibi last month, dashing hopes the conviction might be overturned or commuted to a jail term.

Daily Mail reports, Bibi's defence attorney Saiful Malook told AFP yesterday he had filed an appeal on her behalf to the Supreme Court.

He said that in the petition his client has asked the court to reconsider deficiencies in the case including allegedly manipulated evidence and a delay between the time of the incident and its investigation by police.

Mr Malook added that the blasphemy allegation was concocted by Bibi's enemies to target her and had no basis in fact.

'We expect an early hearing of the appeal and hope that the proceedings will be over in one year,' he added.

The legal challenge is in addition to a personal plea from Bibi's husband Ashiq Masih to Pakistan's President Mamnoon Hussain asking for her to be pardoned and allowed to move to France.

oge okonkwo