Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – “We welcome with satisfaction and hope Italy's commitment to saving Asia Bibi and to the abolition of the blasphemy law,” Fides was told by Peter Jacob, Executive Secretary of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Episcopal Conference of Pakistan, on the eve of the public demonstration: “Asia Bibi: liberty, justice, human rights”, to be held in Rome on 26 January, promoted by a group of parliamentarians and associations from Italian civil society. “That by the Italian civil society,” notes Jacob, “is an example of a country which shows its awareness of the issues of the Pakistani people. Already the interventions by the Holy Father Benedict XVI, the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the recent resolution by the European Parliament have helped to attract international attention to the case of Asia Bibi. We expect the event of 26 January will serve to raise further awareness: it is a question that touches on human rights, the building of democracy, and the common future of humanity. We hope that this movement may be an example to other countries and that the support is felt by civil society in Pakistan, to counter those forces that seek to polarize society.”
To defend the life of Asia Bibi, the first woman sentenced to death, accused of blasphemy in Pakistan, signifies “to say that justice is achieved in building a civilisation of coexistence, where religious, ethnic and cultural diversity are never reasons for hostility, but for peaceful coexistence,” explained Valeria Martano to Fides, responsible for the Community of Sant'Egidio in Asia, one of the groups promoting the event on 26 January. The initiative aims to reaffirm the urgency of respect for religious freedom, dignity and the inalienable rights of all citizens of Pakistan, and calls for the repeal of the blasphemy law in Pakistan.
Valeria Martano said to Fides: “The community of Sant’Egidio has been present for many years in Pakistan, where it supports the poorest and promotes dialogue between religious communities. We have joined the event, hoping for a positive ending to the case of Asia Bibi, whose life is at risk because of the abuse of a law which exposes all Pakistani citizens to injustice, but particularly religious minorities like the Christians in Pakistan, and those who belong to weakest areas of society, such as the poor and women.” In this campaign there is also the need to hold a moratorium on capital punishment in Pakistan: “The death penalty is always unacceptable, and even more so when religious motives have been used to invoke it”, she concluded.
Amnesty International is also “taking part with conviction in the 26 January demonstration to save Asia Bibi and achieve the abolition of the anti-blasphemy law, which puts at risks the lives of minority religious groups,” Fides was told by Riccardo Noury from Amnesty Italy. “The mobilisation of Italian civil society,” he added, “to be close to those in Pakistan, with courage and determination, is committed to a difficult fight for the respect of human rights.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/1/2011)
