Asia Bibi losing hope on death row, family says

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A Christian woman condemned to death four years ago for blasphemy is losing hope that she will be freed or pardoned, her husband told a foreign news agency on Friday.

Asia Bibi has been on death row since November 2010 after she was found guilty of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) during an argument with a Muslim woman.

The Lahore High Court confirmed the death sentence two weeks ago, dashing hopes it might be commuted to a jail term.

Speaking to AFP after visiting Asia Bibi for the first time since the LHC ruling, her husband Ashiq Masih said it had come as a crushing blow.

“Asia was hopeful that her appeal would be admitted and she would be freed, but now she has lost hope,” Masih said.

“She was distraught, weeping for most of the time I had with her, appealing to the Supreme Court and president to use their powers to give her justice.”

Pakistan has never executed anyone for blasphemy and has had a de-facto moratorium on civilian executions since 2008, but Bibi’s case highlights the Islamic republic’s controversial laws on the subject.

Amnesty International has raised “serious concerns” about the fairness of her trial and has called for her release.

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