'New Dawn for Oppressed Minorities' but Religious Hate Rising: 6 Reactions to Asia Bibi's Acquittal

By Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, November 01, 2018

4. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom

Commissioners with the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom participate in a discussion about the commission's 2017 annual report released in April on May 17, 2017 at the Government Publishing Office in Washington, D.C. | (Photo: The Christian Post / Samuel Smith)

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom argued that Bibi's original stay from execution following an appeal was at least partly due to the murder of two Pakistani government officials — Shahbaz Bhatti, a cabinet member, and Salmaan Taseer, the then governor of Punjab, for speaking out in defence of Bibi.

"The case of Asia Bibi illustrates the extent to which blasphemy laws can be exploited to target minority communities," said USCIRF Chair Tenzin Dorjee.

"These laws seek to protect entire religions rather than the individual, as should be the case under international human rights standards. It is deeply troubling that Bibi's case even reached this level, where she almost became the first person in Pakistan's history to be executed for the crime of blasphemy," Dorjee added.

USCIRF also said that as much as it is worth celebrating Bibi's freedom, it is important to remember that there are at least another 40 individuals in prison in Pakistan due to blasphemy charges.