Lawyers confident Asia Bibi will be cleared on appeal of blasphemy charges

February 04, 2011

Despite threats against their client’s life, lawyers for Asia Bibi believe that the young Pakistani mother will be judged innocent of blasphemy charges when her case is heard by an appeals court.

Having been convicted of blasphemy—in a trial that was widely regarded as unfair—Asia Bibi now faces the death penalty. Islamic militants have denounced any proposal for reconsideration of the verdict, and vowed to kill the woman if she is released from prison.

Nevertheless, lawyers preparing her appeal told the Fides news service that they are “confident in being able to demonstrate that the testimonies, upon which the prosecution's case against Asia is focused, will not stand up and are totally fabricated.” They believe, therefore, “that they can prove the innocence of the woman and obtain her full acquittal.”

The lawyers said that they were confident in the impartiality of the appeals court, regardless of the heavy public pressure from Islamic leaders. They said, however, that Bibi will remain in prison, where she is currently being held in isolation, for her own safety.

 

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Further information:

• Asia's Bibi's lawyers: “Confidence in the retrial” (Fides)