After 8 yrs on death row for blasphemy, a Christian woman, Asia Bibi in Pakistan has her sentence overturned

Asia Bibi's death sentence has been overturned by Pakistan's Supreme Court.

Asia Bibi’s husband, Ashiq Masih, said: “We are very happy. This is wonderful news. “We thank God very much that he’s heard our prayers – and the prayers of so many people."

A Pakistani court has overturned the death sentence of a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy, a case that has polarised the nation. Asia Bibi was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement. The landmark ruling has already set off violent protests by hardliners who support strong blasphemy laws. Demonstrations against the verdict are being held in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Multan. Clashes with police have been reported.

The Red Zone in the capital Islamabad, where the Supreme Court is located, has been sealed off by police, and paramilitary forces have been deployed to keep protesters away from the court. Chief Justice Saqib Nisarm, who read out the ruling, said Asia Bibi could walk free from jail in Sheikupura, near Lahore, immediately if not wanted in connection with any other case. She was not in court to hear the ruling, but reacted to the verdict from prison with apparent disbelief. "I can't believe what I am hearing, will I go out now? Will they let me out, really?"

AFP news agency quoted her as saying by phone. The trial stems from an argument Asia Bibi, whose full name is Asia Noreen, had with a group of women in June 2009. They were harvesting fruit when a row broke out about a bucket of water. The women said that because she had used a cup, they could no longer touch it, as her faith had made it unclean. Prosecutors alleged that in the row which followed, the women said Asia Bibi should convert to Islam and that she made three offensive comments about the Prophet Muhammad in response. She was later beaten up at her home, during which her accusers say she confessed to blasphemy.
She was arrested after a police investigation.

What is blasphemy in Pakistan?

Laws enacted by the British Raj in 1860 made it a crime to disturb a religious assembly, trespass on burial grounds, insult religious beliefs or intentionally destroy or defile a place or an object of worship, punishable by up to 10 years in jail.

Several more clauses were added in the 1980s by Pakistan's military ruler Gen Zia ul-Haq:

• 1980 - up to three years in jail for derogatory remarks against Islamic personages
• 1982 - life imprisonment for "wilful" desecration of the Koran
• 1986 - "death, or imprisonment for life" for blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad.