Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – In the testimony, received by Fides, which Asia Bibi gave at the first hearing in court in Nankana Sahib, she claims her innocence with the following words:
“I am a married woman. My husband is a labourer. I used to work in the fields of Muhammad Idree with a group of other women, receiving a daily wage. On the day of the event in question, I was working in the fields with other women. Two of them, Mafia Bibi and Asma Bibi, were angry with me for water I had brought them. They refused, saying that I am a Christian and that they would never accept water from a Christian. From there arose a discussion and strong words flew between me and the two women. The two then went to Qari Salaam (the imam of the village ed.), because they know his wife. Conspiring with him, they made a false and completely fabricated accusation against me. When called to the police I swore on the Bible that I had never said any word against the Prophet Muhammad and the Koran, for whom I have great respect. But the police abetted them and made a case against me based on false accusations. The two women wanted to implicate me in revenge for the dispute. My ancestors have lived in this village since the creation of Pakistan. And for me, in more than 40 years, no accusation of this kind has ever been made about me. I have no education. There is no church in the village. I do not know Islamic thought. How could I make inappropriate statements against the Prophet and against the Koran? Also my employer is not an impartial person, as he has close family ties with the women mentioned.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 4/2/2011)
