"The Voice" |
Blasphemy
The true, heart breaking story of the woman sentenced to death over a cup of water
Author: Asia Bibi (with Anne-Isabelle Tollet)
London: Virgo Press, 2012ISBN 978-1-84408-888-1
Pages 137
"The pen" |
Blasphemy
is a twenty-first century tragedy containing all
the elements of a timeless classic. This powerful narrative is “the
voice” of an illiterate Pakistani Christian woman, Asia
Bibi, recorded (in the first person) by Anne-Isabelle Tollet, a French woman journalist,
who is “the pen”. The latter spent three
years, 2008 – 2011, in Pakistan listening bit-by-bit to Asia’s story through an
intermediary, without ever having the chance to meet the brave and innocent
heroine of this on-going saga.
The chain of events which sealed the fate of this mother of
five, and sent ripples of anger, disbelief and sympathy across the religious,
diplomatic and humanitarian world, started with a simple argument: should a Christian woman be allowed to drink
water from a “Muslim” well. The geographical context was a small village,
Ittan Wali, in Sheikhupura District of the Punjab (Pakistan) where Asia Bibi,
along with other village women, had been hand-picking falsa-berries in the
scorching heat of 45 degrees Centigrade. The date was 14 June 2009.
Aroused by the claims of a Muslim woman, that Asia Bibi had
insulted Prophet Muhammad while defending her right to drink water from the
source from which all other women were drinking, the local imam had gathered a
mob of enthusiasts the next day, who first physically beat Asia and then turned
her over to the police.
On 19 June 2009 Asia Bibi was thrown in a windowless prison-cell
to await her trial. “The trial” took
place on 8 November 2010 and the following verdict was pronounced by Judge
Naveed Iqbal after full five minutes
of deliberation:
‘Asia Noreen Bibi, in
accordance with article 295c of the Pakistan penal code, the court sentences
you to death by hanging and a fine of three hundred thousand rupees.’
The second high profile figure to pay for his life was Shahbaz
Bhatti, the Minister for minorities and the only Christian Minister in the
federal government. He visited Asia in the prision and gave her hope by
promising to try his best to acquire presidential pardon, from Asif Ali
Zardari. The pardon could not be granted as the legal complexities of the
system dictate that the case first has to go all the way to the supreme court
of Pakistan, and a verdict handed, before the president can intervene. This
long winded process could take years but, for his intentions and the actions of
siding with Asia Bibi, Shahbaz Bhatti did not have to wait that long. On 2nd March 2011 he was
brutally gunned down in the capital city, Islamabad, on his was way to his
office. His funeral mass was held in the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, in
Islamabad. Asia Bibi’s husband, Ashiq Masih attended the funeral disguised as a
choir member.
This is the chronicle of
madness that prowls the land in
the guise of sacred law and religious devotion, two of the highest institutions
in civilized human society. The mockery and ridicule in addition to absolute
disgust such behavior brings to the nation is absolutely lost on stick
wielding, slogan shouting enthusiasts.
The story, though tragic in every aspect has all the elements
of a classic; religion, utter human deprivation, courage, love, mob insanity
and above all hope; living hope against all conceivable odds. Hope that is the
greatest hallmark of all true followers of Jesus. The story even has the modern day equivalents
of royalty; powerful figures like Hillary Clinton, the secretary of State (USA),
Monsignor Anthony Rufin, Archbishop of Islamabad, Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir
Azad, the imam of Badshahi mosque, governors,
ministers and even the Pope.
Blasphemy highlights the plight of vulnerable
citizens of The Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
As a model of vulnerability, Asia Bibi fits the bill perfectly: she is vulnerable thrice over, she is an
illiterate woman, she is poor, and she is a Christian in a land where even many
Muslims cannot agree on who is a true Muslim.
The top government officials of Pakistan, including the
President and the prime minister, have always resorted to the rhetorical stance
that the misuse of blasphemy laws shall not be allowed and that the government shall ensure that no one
takes the law into their own hand… Reading Blasphemy
leaves one wondering which country they live in or think they govern. It
surely cannot be the Pakistan of the likes of Asia Bibi.
Asia Bibi’s story has appeared in the newspapers and magazines of Pakistan in bits and pieces and has been superseded by other events since. The publicity it has received through the social media, electronic media and television screens has highlighted the plight of the human rights situation in Pakistan, especially in the context of its religious minorities. However, surpassing all these information sharing channels the book captures the timeline, the human drama, and the enduring threat that exists to the religious minorities of this nuclearly-armed nation. It is fast moving in pace, heart moving in content and absolutely a brilliant piece of writing.
Asia Bibi’s story has appeared in the newspapers and magazines of Pakistan in bits and pieces and has been superseded by other events since. The publicity it has received through the social media, electronic media and television screens has highlighted the plight of the human rights situation in Pakistan, especially in the context of its religious minorities. However, surpassing all these information sharing channels the book captures the timeline, the human drama, and the enduring threat that exists to the religious minorities of this nuclearly-armed nation. It is fast moving in pace, heart moving in content and absolutely a brilliant piece of writing.
No comments:
Post a Comment