The Voice of the Martyrs' Update on Asia Bibi

I received the following update from The Voice of the Martyrs yesterday concerning Asia Bibi, a Pakistani woman who has been imprisoned since 2009 for sharing her faith with some Muslim woman during a dispute:

“The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening ...” (1 Kings 17:6a).
Dear Friend, Do you remember the story of Elijah being fed by the ravens? Asia Bibi, a Christian wife and mother imprisoned in Pakistan, has received hope and encouragement in a similar way. Asia has remained in jail since her arrest on blasphemy charges in June 2009. A Pakistani court found her guilty of blasphemy in June 2010 and sentenced her to death. But God has not forgotten her! Asia shared this story with a VOM contact who recently visited her in prison:
There is a beautiful thing that happens every day in my cell. Two days after they announced my death penalty, I was brought into [death row]. Every morning around 3:30 or 4, a brown bird with a long beak appears and sits on the boundary wall. This bird also comes every evening around 5. He sits there for 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening. Later on he became my friend. I talk to him and he also talks to me.
As I watched this bird every day, I tried to understand the meaning of him coming day after day. I think this is a messenger from God giving me His message. When the bird comes, I feel encouraged and peaceful. I feel comforted after his visit. I think this is a very significant sign from God.
Asia also reported that she spends much of her time in prayer, including prayer for those around the world who pray for her and speak out on her behalf.
The Voice of the Martyrs provides financial assistance to Asia's family through our Families of Prisoners fund. We invite you to make a special contribution to this fund, which enables VOM to help the families of imprisoned Christians, families like Asia Bibi's.
Please CLICK HERE to support the families of Christians imprisoned for their faith around the world, and please continue to pray for Asia Bibi as well as her husband, Ashiq, and daughters. And if you have not signed the online petition asking for Asia's release, please sign now at www.CallForMercy.com.

Update on Asia Bibi

Like Iranian Pastor Nadarkhani, Asia Bibi of Pakistan has spent another Christmas in prison. Spero News reported on her conditions as of December 20th in an article titled, "Pakistan: Christmas in prison for Asia Bibi, sentenced to death for blasphemy"; the subtitle says it all:

She appears frail, in poor health.

Grateful for prayers and calls for help and support, that she may soon return to embrace her husband and daughters. Despite the suffering, Asia has forgiven her captors and wonders how many more Christian victims will fall beneath the specter of the "black law".

According to the article, on December 19, "...a delegation of the International Masihi Foundation, an NGO that deals with the legal protection of women, visited her to exchange greetings on the eve of the festive season." They conducted an interview with Asia Bibi.

Based on some of the description of Asia Bibi's reactions and appearance, it seems that she may be being treated poorly as well. The article mentions that she is "fragile and very weak, she can barely stand up," and that when a guard entered the room and the delegation asked her how she was being treated, she looked away and refused to answer the question. She also stated that "I would not wish even my worst enemy to suffer what I myself have had to endure, what both I and my family have experienced since that terrible June 9."

Among some of the answers to the questions, Asia stated the following

-- "I continue to pray and fast for my family. I wish with all my being to be with my family. I want to hug my daughters. And I still cherish the hope that one day I will be freed."

-- "Please continue to pray for my return to my family. And I am immensely grateful for the prayers."

-- "I have forgiven those people who charged me with blasphemy."

-- "This is a chapter in my life that I would love to shut behind me and forget."

I have also seen some rumors going about on Twitter that Asia Bibi's husband has since refused to visit her and that he is making money off of publicizing her situation. As of right now, these rumors remain speculative at best.

Please continue to pray for Asia Bibi. For ideas on what you can do to help, please see this post as well as search through the archives... in various posts there are numerous suggestions on how you can get involved. If you would like to give a contribution to help support Asia Bibi's family, I suggest you contact The Voice of the Martyrs, tell them that you want to give to the "Families of Prisoners" fund, and ask if they can use it toward Asia Bibi's family.

Please Sign These!

Here are two petitions that you can sign to help Asia Bibi (for those unfamiliar with her story, click here):

1) A Call For Mercy, is a petition set up by the Voice of the Martyrs to help Asia Bibi. They will deliver the results to the Embassy of Pakistan. So far, they have reached 243,063, and it is amazing to see how many from various countries have signed the petition -- even Pakistanis are raising their voices with 150,111 signatures! You can sign the petition by going here.

2) Also, Petition Buzz has a petition up as well. They are trying to get 100,000 signatures and they are sending them to the US State Department and the Embassy of Pakistan. You can sign that one here.

Please make your voice heard!

A Call For Mercy: Asia Bibi

The following video depicts Asia's family asking for your prayers for Asia Bibi:

On Asia's Case: For the Newbies :)

I found a video that describes Asia Bibi's case quite well. It's from November of 2010; so much has happened since then, but this video gives you the scoop into the basics of Asia's story -- I recommend it especially for those who aren't too familiar with Bibi's case. (Rest in peace, Shabahz Batti.) Click here to watch the video. (I couldn't format it to fit the blog... sorry!)

The picture below depicts one of Asia's daughters praying for her mother:

Please visit www.callformercy.com to sign a petition requesting that Asia Bibi be freed.

VOM Launches Petition To Save Asia Bibi!

The Voice of the Martyrs has just launched a petition to help free Asia Bibi! 

Today I am very happy to share that The Voice of the Martyrs has launched a petition drive to help free Asia Bibi.

Please visit http://www.acallformercy.com to sign a petition supporting our sister in Christ, who has not only been persecuted for her faith in Jesus Christ, but who is also now on death row.
Here's what the petition says:

I, the undersigned, respectfully request the immediate release of Asia Bibi from prison in Pakistan and the dismissal of her blasphemy conviction and death sentence. We ask that you have mercy on our Christian sister. Please allow this wife and mother to be set free and to be reunited with her husband and children.

EVERY SIGNATURE IS A CALL FOR MERCY

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION TODAY AND PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS.  THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT ASIA BIBI!

Update on Asia Bibi

There hasn't been a lot of talk about Asia Bibi in recent months... but Persecution Blog is reporting the following:

As you may recall, Asia has been given a death sentence under Pakistan's blasphemy law.  She is still in prison, awaiting a final decision on her life.

They have recently begun to feature prisoners who need some extra encouragement from us, their Christian brothers and sisters; and this week, they are featuring Asia Bibi. Click here to write a letter to Asia Bibi. So far, they have collected 100,427 letters (with the international responses being much higher - 3,603,316!), but they need your help! You can also alert the Pakistani government on Asia Bibi's behalf using the following information:


-Write a letter to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan: ambassador@embassyofpakistanusa.org

-Write a letter to the Pakistani President: publicmail@president.gov.pk

-Write a letter to the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations: pakistan@un.int


Here are some things to keep in mind when you email the Pakistani officials:

- Be respectful (obviously).

- Do not mention politics. There is so much political turmoil going on in Pakistan, that it would only make matters worse for one to engage in that topic. Just get to your point for writing - Asia Bibi's freedom.

- If you are a believer, be sure to mention that you are praying for them. Additionally, no matter who you are, be sure to express that you understand the pressure that they are under, and that you hope they will do everything in their power to have Asia Bibi freed.

And, as I always say, if you have a blog/website, Twitter, or Facebook, please consider getting the word out about Asia Bibi -- she needs our prayers and support!

Thank you for taking a stand for your persecuted brothers and sisters around the world!

"Remember the prisoners as if chained with them--those who are mistreated--since you yourselves are in the body also." ~ Hebrews 13:3

Mrs. Caizhen has been released!

I just discovered that Yang Caizhen, a Chinese Christian who has been in a labor camp for a year and a half, has been released!

Here is the update from the Voice of the Martyrs Canada blog:

We just learned that Yang Caizhen, a Chinese Christian detained along with her husband and four other believers in November 2009, has been released. Praise the Lord!

In September 2009, Yang Caizhen and four other members of the Fushan church in Linfen, Shanxi province, were sentenced to two to several years of criminal detention for organizing a prayer rally. She has been ill and in the hospital several times since her arrest and was reportedly released in February due to her poor health. At last report, she was still in a very fragile state.
Praise God for Yang Caizhen's release! Ask Him to give healing to her as she recovers. Pray also for her husband, Yang Xuan, and Pastor Wang Xiaoguang, Yang Rongli and Zhang Huamei, who were arrested at the same time as Yang Caizhen and remain in prison.

The July edition of The Voice of the Martyrs newsletter will feature an update on Yang Caizhen and other believers taking a bold stand for Christ. Subscribe to this free resource online today.

I am very excited about Mrs. Caizhen's release. She is actually the one who birthed the idea for this blog. My heart went out to her, because her daughter Esther sent out a plea to her Christian brothers and sisters to write to her mother and pray for her. Mrs. Caizhen has arthritis, so Esther was very worried that her mother would not be able to keep up with the demands of the labor camp -- 15-hour workdays each day for two years. That was when I began writing and campaigning. I first began writing about her on a separate page of my main blog, but it became too crowded. So I decided to start this blog. I was planning to eventually move all the information over to this blog, but by that time, Asia Bibi's situation was most pressing. I will update you on Asia Bibi's case soon. For now, I encourage you to keep Mrs. Caizhen and family in your prayers. Here is their story:

In the early morning hours on Sunday, September 13, 2009, more than 400 Chinese officials and hired thugs stormed the grounds of the Linfen Fushan Church, destroying buildings and injuring more than 100 church members. Weeks, later, 10 Linfen Church leaders were arrested, convicted and sent to prison, including Esther’s parents, Yang Xuan, and Yang Caizhen.

Esther’s mother, stricken with arthritis, was sentenced to two years at a re-education through labor camp, where reportedly her job is to make cigarette lighters. Esther worries her mother’s health will worsen under the stress of 15-hour days spent working in the labor camp.

Her father was sentenced to three-and-a-half years. His whereabouts are unknown. The other Linfen Church leaders received two to seven years in prison for shepherding their 50,000 member unregistered church.

Here is a very brief timeline of events compiled form both The Voice of the Marytrs and Help Linfen websites:


Sunday, September 13, 2009: more than 400 Chinese officials and hired thugs stormed the grounds of the Linfen Fushan Church, destroying buildings and injuring more than 100 church members. Weeks, later, 10 Linfen Church leaders were arrested, convicted and sent to prison, including Esther’s parents, Yang Xuan, and Yang Caizhen.

September 14, 2009: over 1,000 members gathered in the pouring rain to pray for Linfen Church. Linfen Church leaders called on the government to repay the damages to their property and issue a public apology. The Fushan government responded by installing state police guards at numerous house church sites, and banning members from gathering to worship. Water, electricity, and all communications were cut off for neighboring churches...

October 1, National Day: seven Linfen church leaders are detained.

October 17: Esther’s mother, Yang Caizhen, her father, and several other church leaders are detained. Yang, stricken with arthritis, is sentenced to two years at a re-education through labor camp, where her job is to make cigarette lighters. Esther worries her mother’s health will worsen under the stress of 15-hour days spent working in the labor camp. Her father was sentenced to three-and-a-half years. His whereabouts are unknown. The other Linfen Church leaders received two to seven years in prison for shepherding their 50,000 member unregistered church.

November 25: a rigged trial is set up for several of the church leaders. Only the family's lawyers were allowed entrance and access to only 30 of 100 documents used as evidence in the trial. Only four of the family members where allowed to attend the trial.

2010: Esther sends an appeal to her brothers and sister requesting prayer and action concerning her parents. http://www.helplinfen.com/2011/04/daughter-of-linfen-prisoners-appeal.html

May 5, 2010: VOM reports, "Esther thanks VOM readers for writing to her mom and asks us to continue to write to her and the other prisoners who are in Linfen...."

May 2011: Esther's mother, Mrs. Caizhen is released, due to poor health.


Now that Mrs. Caizhen has been released, please pray for her health to be restored and for the other members of Linfen Church to be release, including Esther's father.

Pakistani Court Sentences Asia Bibi To Death

Asia Bibi has officially been sentenced to death by hanging according to a ruling made by the Pakistani Court.

This month a Pakistani court sentenced IshaIsham's mother, 45-year-old Asia Bibi, to death, not because she killed, injured or stole, but simply because she said something.

Prosecutors say Bibi, who is a Christian, broke Pakistan's strict blasphemy law by insulting Islam and the prophet Muhammad, a crime punishable by death or life imprisonment according to Pakistan's penal code....

Neither the Koran nor the prophet Muhammad's teachings in the Hadith call for the execution of blasphemers, but Islamic scholars and jurists from generations past included the death sentence when drafting Islamic law.

Human rights groups have long blamed Pakistan's blasphemy laws for persecution and violence against religious minorities like last year's attack on a Christian village in Punjab Province and recent bombings of minority Muslim mosques.

Activists say the government has refused to amend the law for fear of backlash from Islamist groups and their followers who deem scrapping the law as un-Islamic.

At the time this report was filed, Pakistan's law minister had not responded to CNN's request for an interview.

Bibi has appealed her death sentence and asked for bail, the chief prosecutor of Punjab province told CNN.

The prosecutor, Chaudhry Muhammad Jahangir, said the appeal will be heard by the Lahore High court and a decision could be months away.

Pakistan has never executed someone convicted of blasphemy but in Bibi's village public opinion was unanimous.

"Yes, she should be hanged," a group of villagers cried out.

Please continue to pray for Asia Bibi and do what you can to advocate on her behalf!

Pray for Asia Bibi

Faithful News is reporting the following on Asia Bibi's case:

Release partners in Pakistan are calling for prayer for Asia Bibi, the 45-year-old woman on death row for blasphemy, who is said to be unwell in prison. 

Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan (SLMP) has confirmed reports that Asia has chicken pox – which some sources have attributed directly to the unsanitary conditions in the jail.

Contrary to some earlier new reports, SLMP says she is receiving medical treatment from the prison authorities. 

Asia, who is from Punjab, was given the death sentence in November after being convicted of blasphemy following a discussion about faith with her work colleagues (Prayer Alert, November 8, 2010). Her appeal is still pending. She is being kept in solitary confinement and has received several death threats.

Please keep Asia Bibi, her family, and Pakistani Christians in your prayers.

Letter to Pakistani Officials Asking to Protect Religious Minorities in Pakistan

Today, I received the following email from Open Doors, USA:

Dear Christiana,

Christians in Pakistan are in great fear of increased persecution since the recent assassinations of Salmaan Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti. These two men were the greatest friends of religious minorities in Pakistan, including Christians. We are asking you to send a message to the Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S. expressing your concern for fellow Christians that live in Pakistan, and encouraging the protection of Christians in the country.

Salmaan Taseer was the Governor of Punjab, and an outspoken critic of Pakistan's blasphemy laws. After a Christian woman named Asia Noreen was sentenced to death for blasphemy, Taseer declared that she should be pardoned. Islamist parties started protests against Taseer, and the governor's bodyguard murdered him because of his opposition to the laws.

Pakistan's Minister of Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, was assassinated less than two months after Taseer. According to a note left at the scene of his murder, suspected Islamic extremists murdered him because of his vocal opposition to the blasphemy laws. Bhatti was the only Christian in the Pakistani Cabinet, and was a determined advocate for Pakistan's religious minorities.

Religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly Christians, have good reason to be fearful after these two murders. Islamists in the country hold much power because they have shown that those who oppose them will likely suffer for it. They have seen their greatest advocates assassinated, and they need support and encouragement from the body of Christ: Christians like you.

The purpose of this letter is to express our compassion and prayer for Pakistan. Messages that might offend the Pakistani government will harm Christians in Pakistan, not help them. Therefore, please follow specific guidelines if you choose to edit the sample letter before sending it to Pakistani Embassy. If you are not willing to abide by these guidelines, then we ask you to forgo this way of communicating your compassion and prayer. Please…

- Do not mention Open Doors in your message

- Do not discuss Pakistan's Blasphemy Law in your message

- Do not criticize Islam in your message

- Do not sound antagonistic, use respectful language

Thank you for understanding the need for additional caution in this campaign and THANK YOU for taking action to express your love and support for suffering Christians in Pakistan. Please send a message to Pakistani Ambassador Haqqani today!

Advocating with you,
Lindsay Vessey

Advocacy Director
Open Doors USA

Here is the sample letter that you can send to the Honorable Ambassador Haqqani:

I am deeply shocked and grieved by the death of Pakistani Cabinet minister, Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti. Earlier this year, your country already lost the Punjabi Governor Mr. Salmaan Taseer.

Through this letter, I want to express my sincere condolences to you and your country, and to the grieving families and relatives of both men.

In Bhatti and Taseer, your country lost two brave politicians who committed themselves to serving the country to the best of their abilities.

I acknowledge the delicate situation your government is in, trying to lead the country into a peaceful and prosperous future in both unity and harmony. Therefore, I want to reach out in prayer to the government of Pakistan and to its citizens, especially in this period of grief.

I politely ask that special attention be given to the protection of the Christian minority in your country who are mourning the deaths of their friends.

May God provide you and the Pakistani authorities with all the wisdom and discernment they need.

Please commit to pray for Pakistan, its leaders, and its Christians.

EU Pressing for Fair Trial of Asia Bibi

The Pakistan Christian TV is reporting the following:

CLAAS has received letters from the office of Lady Catherine Ashton, Vice-President of the European Union, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, voicing their concern for Asia’s safety and the human rights violations occurring under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.

Lady Ashton said she was aware that blasphemy charges often appeared to be based on false accusations and that they were being used to settle personal scores and incite hatred against religious minorities.

She expressed her desire to see the “strictest observance” of independent and impartial trial guarantees in relation to her trial.

The letter concluded by reiterating the EU’s commitment to seeing human rights protected in Pakistan.

At the end of last year, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, pressed home the need to provide security for Asia Bibi and her family in a letter sent to the Pakistani President, the federal Minister of Justice and the Minister of Justice for Punjab Province at the end of last year....

The EU made its own concerns known to Prime Minister Gilani last November when it warned in a letter that the death sentence for blasphemy was significantly impacting upon Pakistan’s international standing given the internationally accepted principle of upholding freedom of expression and belief.

Significantly, the EU called upon the Pakistani government to protect religious freedom by reforming the blasphemy laws.

The Archbishop said he would continue to press the Pakistani government on the rights of Christians, and the British government to use its influence on the Pakistani government in this respect. 

Open Doors USA and The World Watch List

Iran made it to Open Doors USA's World Watch list as number two as the runner-up to North Korea! This means that Iran is number two on the scale of the top 50 countries where persecution is the worst! (You'll find it interesting to note that Pakistan -- which we have been covering in-depth on this blog -- is number eleven on the list.) Please pray for Iran, and while you're at it, check out this amazing story of a missionary who was held hostage in Iran.

Open Doors USA is a ministry of Brother Andrew that is dedicated to "strengthening Christians to stand strong in the face of persecution and equipping them to shine Christ's light in these dark places." You can read a review I wrote on one of Brother Andrew's touching books on persecution in the Middle East here.

Also, if you sign up for their newsletter, you can get a sneak preview of the first chapter of their new book The Privilege of Persecution and learn how to win a copy!

I encourage you to pray for all of our brothers and sisters around the globe who are persecuted for their faith.

Christians in Pakistan Fearful After Assassination of Second Pakistani Official

On March 2nd, the last remaining Christian Pakistani official, Shahbaz Bhatti, was assassinated while getting into his car headed for work. Apparently, a car drove up and a group of gunmen rang out a total of 50 shots, twenty of which ended up wounding Bhatti. The driver was not injured, but drove Bhatti to the nearest hospital. Bhatti did not survive; he died on the way there. The government had provided security for Bhatti, but they were not present when the assassination took place. The gunmen littered pamphlets on the lawn just after the shooting, stating that this was done because of Bhatti's opposition to the blasphemy law. This year, this is the second assassination of a Pakistani official for opposing the law. Here is a report from Christianity Today:

Christians in Pakistan are fearful after the assassination yesterday of Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti.

The minority Christian community took to the streets to protest after Mr Bhatti, the country’s only Christian minister, was murdered by gunmen outside his parents’ home in the capital Islamabad.

‘Rashid’, a Christian campaigner, whose name has been changed for security reasons, told Release International he was “heartbroken” by news of his close friend’s death.

He demanded justice on behalf of Mr Bhatti and Pakistani Christians, who are even more fearful for their safety.

Rashid fears that if the government is unable to protect its own ministers then ordinary Christians are even more at risk.

“Shahbaz was a government servant and it’s the responsibility of government to keep him safe,” he said.
“When a minister is not secure, what is the position of Christians?

“We are like the sheep – extremists can come and slaughter us. We have no cause, no weight.”
He said the government was not taking its responsibility to protect Christians seriously enough.....

Yaqub Masih, President of UK Pakistan Christian Concern offered his prayers for Mr Bhatti and his family.

He said: “It is a very black day for the freedom of minorities in Pakistan when a Christian is martyred for standing up for human rights and freedom of speech.

“We pray for Mr Bhatti and his family and supporters at this difficult time.”

Pakistani Christian Leader Speaking Out Against Blasphemy Law

[Source: Catholic Herald] Pakistan’s leading Catholic politician has said that death threats will not stop him speaking out against the country’s blasphemy law.

Shahbaz Bhatti, Minister for Minorities and the first Christian to hold a cabinet post in Pakistan, has received multiple death threats. He said during a trip to Canada: “I have been told by pro-Taliban religious extremists that if I will continue to speak against the blasphemy law, I will be beheaded.” But he said his faith gave him strength.

“As a Christian, I believe Jesus is my strength. He has given me a power and wisdom and motivation to serve suffering humanity. I follow the principles of my conscience, and I am ready to die and sacrifice my life for the principles I believe,” he said.

Mr Bhatti spoke in Ottawa while on a trip to raise awareness for his campaign to reform the country’s notoriously strict blasphemy laws, which most recently were used against Asia Bibi, the Christian woman sentenced to death for “insulting” Islam. Mrs Bibi says the allegation was invented by a neighbour to settle a score, a common complaint about the blasphemy law, and she is now in hiding. Although no one has ever been executed under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, as many as 10 people are thought to have been murdered while on trial.

Public figures have been scared to criticise the blasphemy laws since the assassination of the governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, by one of his bodyguards last months. Taseer had protested at the death sentence given to Asia Bibi and supported reform of the law.

On Monday it was announced that Mr Bhatti would retain his position in the cabinet following a reshuffle, despite calls by Islamists for him to be removed.

Italy Calls for Leniency for Asia Bibi

ROME, FEB. 3, 2011 (Zenit.org).-  It's rare to have the Pope supported by the European Parliament in standing up for the rights of Christians, but that's what has happened with respect to the disturbing case of Asia Bibi.

 

A 46-year-old Pakistani Christian mother of five, Bibi has been sentenced to death on blasphemy charges, heavily fined and forced to spend over a year in solitary confinement for allegedly insulting the prophet Muhammad.

 

One of the nations that is leading calls on the Pakistani government for leniency is Italy. Last Saturday, Rome played host to a moving concert held in Bibi's honour, sponsored, among others, by the Community of Sant'Egidio, Pakistani Christians in Italy, and Religions for Peace, and held in the famous Franciscan-run church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli.

 

The choir and orchestra of the German School of Rome, made up of musicians and choristers of all ages, performed Anton Bruckner's Mass in F-minor -- a fitting piece of music that conveys the certainty of faith. The concert's aim, the school's music director said in his introduction, was simply "to bring hope" to Asia Bibi....

 

And yet so far, these worldwide appeals have gone unheeded, most probably for fear of reprisals. In the meantime, the controversy appears to be escalating. On Jan. 30, on a day of prayer and fasting in Pakistan for peace, some 40,000 Islamic militants took to the streets of Lahore to protest against pressure to repeal the law, with some protesters burning an effigy of the Pope, according to a Pakistani press report. By contrast, a special prayer vigil was held on the same day in Lahore's Franciscan church of St Mary. Joining the Archbishop of Lahore at the vigil were representatives from other Christian denominations as well as Hindu and Muslim leaders.

 

Read the full story HERE.

Day of Prayer for the Persecuted

Today is the Day of Prayer for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. Asia Bibi is only one of many Christians who are persecuted for their faith in Christ; don't forget to intercede for these precious people.

To help you get started, I just discovered that Persecution.org has a blog called "Prisoner Focus" which highlights several persecuted Christians and what you can do to help. The most recent featured Christian is "Shoaib Assadullah, an Afghan Christian, was arrested for his faith in Jesus Christ." Please pray for these Christians and be sure to get involved.

"Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also." ~ Hebrews 13:3

Tightened Security for Asia Bibi & Other News

The Catholic Exchange reports the following concerning Asia Bibi:

Asia Bibi, the Christian woman condemned to death accused of blasphemy and imprisoned in Sheikhpura jail for over a year and a half has been moved into an isolation cell. This was reported to Fides by Asia’s husband, Ashiq Masih, who has just visited her. After receiving so many threats, and given the danger that Asia may be killed at any moment, the prison authorities in agreement with the government have finally decided to elevate security levels for her protection. Now Asia is being held in an isolation cell, with two guards in view, while two telecameras are trained on her 24 hours a day. The food given to her is also strictly controlled. To avoid the risk of poisoning, raw food is given to her and she is allowed to cook the food for herself. 

Asia, Ashiq tells Fides, “is still sad and worried for her children. I told her to trust in God and that we are doing everything to secure her freedom. I have also told her that all Christians and people of good will in Pakistan will pray for her on the World Day of Peace on 30 January.”

On Twitter, @FreeAsiaBibi explained:  Jan 30, 2011, is a “Day of Prayer” for the release of Christian mother Asia Bibi,also for the “total repeal of Pakistan’s blasphemy Laws.” (Please follow them, by the way; they keep up to date on Asia Bibi's case.)

Concerning Pakistan's blasphemy law, the Business Recorder reports:

Punjab Governor Latif Khosa said on Thursday that no amendment would be made in the Blasphemy Law, asserting that no such legislation on the law was being envisaged by the government....

Khosa asserted that PPP would defend the honour of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) till the last drop of blood in their veins....

JI Ameer Syed Munawar Hasan, addressing the press conference, welcomed the reconciliation efforts by the PPP government, and stressed that masses should reap the fruits of reconciliation policy in the country.

Syed Munawar Hasan demanded of the government to take notice of the US government's statement regarding granting protection to Asia and immediately expel representative of the Vatican City from Pakistan by declaring Pope's statement "interference" in the internal affairs.
JI Ameer criticised that no clear contradiction has yet been submitted by the government regarding the fact-finding committee on Blasphemy issue headed by Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti.

Munawar Hassan reiterated that the government must dispel "misunderstandings" and take notice of the Pope's as well as US government statements regarding Asia Bibi.
To a question, JI Ameer said that he would visit Punjab Governor's House with the same agenda.

You can read the full article HERE. Please continue to keep Asia Bibi in your prayers.

'In-Prison' Appeals Hearing Request by Asia Bibi's Lawyers

Today, the Christian Post reported:

Legal representatives of Asia Bibi have requested that the hearing of her appeal take place within prison walls, fearing the possibility of a summary execution if she were to make an appearance in the High Court of Lahore....

Haroon Masih, the director of Masihi Foundation, labeled Bibi’s presence in the courtroom of Lahore as “highly ill-advised,” reported Fides News Agency.

“It would expose her to shooting by radicals, as happened to the brothers Rashid and Sajid Emmanuel, accused of blasphemy and murdered during the trial before the court in July 2010 in Faisalabad,” he warned.
Director Haroon Masih warned that “even this transfer implies grave dangers for her safety.”

“Given recent events, we do not trust highly in the security services offered by the State, composed of Muslim men,” he told Fides news. “The terrorists may strike at every opportunity, or infiltrate the guards that should be protecting her.” ...

“We must do everything we can to protect Asia's life,” Masih urged. “We hope that, given the national and international mobilization, Asia will soon regain her freedom, given her innocence.”

Regardless of whether the request is approved, Masihi Foundation, the only organization offering legal assistance to Bibi, intends to arrange a private convoy for her if it becomes necessary to leave the compound of her prison cell.

Asia Bibi Is Being Moved To A Better Prison!

The last two posts have touched on the need for better security for Asia Bibi in the face of militant Muslims who want her death. So I am very excited and relieved to see this piece of news from VOM Canada's site:
 

Asia Bibi will be moved to a new prison.

Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian woman sentenced to death on blasphemy charges, will soon be moved to an all-women prison due to security concerns, reported ASSIST News Service yesterday.

Sheikhupura Prison superintendent Khalid Sheikh told the media, "I have received directives from the Punjab Home Department to shift Asia from Sheikhupura district jail to an all-women jail in Multan, as her life is in danger in Sheikhupura jail."

The transfer is expected to take place within the week.

Since Asia’s sentence, the Christian community has been raising concerns to the authorities and Shahbaz Bhatti, the Federal Minister for Minority Affairs, claiming Asia is not receiving sufficient security in spite of life threats from militants and rewards for her death being announced across Pakistan.

Asia`s husband, Ashiq Masih, also appealed to the authorities to raise her security, as her life is in danger.

Assist News reported:

The transfer is expected to take place at night under heavy security within the next seven days.
 
The Punjab Home Department has directed the Inspector General of Police to provide heavy security to ensure a safe transfer.
 
Mr. Kashif Mazhar, a senior spokesman for Life for All, told the media, "It is good that Asia is being shifted, but the transfer should be kept confidential as the extremists are vigilantly looking for an opportunity to kill Asia Bibi, she should be flown in a helicopter as the matter is extremely serious."
 
The Christian community raised their concern to the authorities and the Federal Minister for minority affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, claiming that Asia Bibi is not being provided sufficient security despite constant life threats from militants and rewards being announced across Pakistan to kill Asia Bibi.
 
Asia`s husband Ashiq Masih also appealed to the authorities to raise her security, as her life is in danger. Ministry of Interior had asked the Punjab government to increase security for Asia Bibi in Sheikhupura Jail.
 
As she waits for her case to be appealed to the Lahore High Court, Asia Bibi spends her time talking to her female prison guards, catching up with the news from a television placed in a nearby room and reading an Urdu Bible given to her by supporters.
 
She is not a fluent reader, said Pastor Obed Robert, a local pastor for Life for All Ministries who regularly visits her and supports her family, but during her months of incarceration she had taken particular comfort from the words of John Chapter 14, Verse 1, which says: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."