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Blasphemy: A Memoir - Sentenced to Death Over a Cup of Water
In June 2009 a Pakistani mother of five, Asia Bibi, was out picking fruit in the fields. At midday she went to the nearest well, picked up a cup, and took a drink of cool water, and then offered it to another woman. Suddenly, one of her fellow workers cried out that the water belonged to Muslim women and that Bibi—who is Christian—had contaminated it. “Blasphemy!” someone shouted, a crime punishable by death in Pakistan. In that instant, with one word, Bibi’s fate was sealed. First attacked by a mob, Bibi was then thrown into prison and sentenced to be hanged.
Since that day, Asia Bibi has been held in appalling conditions, her family members have had to flee their village under threat from vengeful extremists, and the two brave public figures who came to Bibi’s defense—the Muslim governor of the Punjab and Pakistan’s Christian Minister for Minorities—have been brutally murdered. In Blasphemy, Asia Bibi, who has become a symbol for everyone concerned with ending an unjust law that allows people to settle personal scores and that kills Christians and Muslims alike indiscriminately, bravely tells her shocking and inspiring story and makes a last cry for help from her prison cell.
Proceeds from the sale of this book support Asia Bibi’s family, which has been forced into hiding.
Since that day, Asia Bibi has been held in appalling conditions, her family members have had to flee their village under threat from vengeful extremists, and the two brave public figures who came to Bibi’s defense—the Muslim governor of the Punjab and Pakistan’s Christian Minister for Minorities—have been brutally murdered. In Blasphemy, Asia Bibi, who has become a symbol for everyone concerned with ending an unjust law that allows people to settle personal scores and that kills Christians and Muslims alike indiscriminately, bravely tells her shocking and inspiring story and makes a last cry for help from her prison cell.
Proceeds from the sale of this book support Asia Bibi’s family, which has been forced into hiding.
137 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2011
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November 12, 2018
"Blasphemy is a victimless crime." ~Richard Dawkins
Imagine you're working in a hot field all day picking fruit, bending over, standing up, over and over. Sweat runs down your back. Your throat is parched in the heat. Imagine your need for a glass of water.
That was Asia Bibi 9 years ago (as of the time of this review). She innocently walked over to a well and took a refreshing drink of water, then another. Most of us cannot imagine what happened next. We can imagine the heat; we can picture ourselves walk to the well; feel the water quench our thirst. However, what happened to Asia next is incomprehensible to most of us. She was accused of blasphemy and sentenced to death.
Asia is a Pakistani Christian, living in a majority Muslim country where the laws tend to favor Muslims over the Hindu and Christian citizens. By drinking from a cup that Muslim women use, Asia was accused and convicted of committing blasphemy, a "crime" punishable by death.
For 2 months, Asia's husband, after his weekly visits with her, met with French journalist Anne-Isabelle Tollet, to whom he told Asia's thoughts and story. Ms. Tollet then wrote this book. The translation was cringe-worthy and I thought Ms. Tollet made Asia sound very shallow and even silly at times, but that could have been because of the bad translation job. I am still very glad I read this story, and am gladder still that the Pakistani Supreme Court just acquitted Asia three days ago. This has sparked violent protests in the country, leading the government to bar Asia from leaving the country even though she and her family are in imminent danger. We can only hope they will remove this ban, and that Asia, her husband, and five children will be able to find safety and peace abroad. Unfortunately, they will probably always have to live in hiding no matter where they go, but they deserve a chance at happiness after all these years of suffering.
At the time of the writing, Asia had been in prison for 2 years, awaiting death by hanging. She was kept in deplorable conditions and I do not know how she held on to her sanity. Her cell leaked when it rained; there was no heating in the winter and she had only one thin blanket and no sheets on her bed. She had no where to go to the bathroom except on the floor of her cell.... a tiny cell... and it would go days before she was given a bucket in which to clean it up. The stench must have been unbearable. No person or animal should be kept in the condition she was in. It is heart-breaking and horrifying.
According to the BBC, "Since 1990, at least 65 people have reportedly been killed in Pakistan over claims of blasphemy." The vast majority are Muslims "but are regarded as heretical by orthodox Islam". I hope that one day soon, Pakistan will do away with these antiquated laws. Putting someone to death over a victim-less crime is a crime in itself. Indeed, putting someone to death for any crime (as my country the USA ashamedly still does) is a crime. Hopefully in the near future, there will cease to be such a thing as the death penalty in any nation on earth.
For the whole story from which I quoted BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-4...
Imagine you're working in a hot field all day picking fruit, bending over, standing up, over and over. Sweat runs down your back. Your throat is parched in the heat. Imagine your need for a glass of water.
That was Asia Bibi 9 years ago (as of the time of this review). She innocently walked over to a well and took a refreshing drink of water, then another. Most of us cannot imagine what happened next. We can imagine the heat; we can picture ourselves walk to the well; feel the water quench our thirst. However, what happened to Asia next is incomprehensible to most of us. She was accused of blasphemy and sentenced to death.
Asia is a Pakistani Christian, living in a majority Muslim country where the laws tend to favor Muslims over the Hindu and Christian citizens. By drinking from a cup that Muslim women use, Asia was accused and convicted of committing blasphemy, a "crime" punishable by death.
For 2 months, Asia's husband, after his weekly visits with her, met with French journalist Anne-Isabelle Tollet, to whom he told Asia's thoughts and story. Ms. Tollet then wrote this book. The translation was cringe-worthy and I thought Ms. Tollet made Asia sound very shallow and even silly at times, but that could have been because of the bad translation job. I am still very glad I read this story, and am gladder still that the Pakistani Supreme Court just acquitted Asia three days ago. This has sparked violent protests in the country, leading the government to bar Asia from leaving the country even though she and her family are in imminent danger. We can only hope they will remove this ban, and that Asia, her husband, and five children will be able to find safety and peace abroad. Unfortunately, they will probably always have to live in hiding no matter where they go, but they deserve a chance at happiness after all these years of suffering.
At the time of the writing, Asia had been in prison for 2 years, awaiting death by hanging. She was kept in deplorable conditions and I do not know how she held on to her sanity. Her cell leaked when it rained; there was no heating in the winter and she had only one thin blanket and no sheets on her bed. She had no where to go to the bathroom except on the floor of her cell.... a tiny cell... and it would go days before she was given a bucket in which to clean it up. The stench must have been unbearable. No person or animal should be kept in the condition she was in. It is heart-breaking and horrifying.
According to the BBC, "Since 1990, at least 65 people have reportedly been killed in Pakistan over claims of blasphemy." The vast majority are Muslims "but are regarded as heretical by orthodox Islam". I hope that one day soon, Pakistan will do away with these antiquated laws. Putting someone to death over a victim-less crime is a crime in itself. Indeed, putting someone to death for any crime (as my country the USA ashamedly still does) is a crime. Hopefully in the near future, there will cease to be such a thing as the death penalty in any nation on earth.
For the whole story from which I quoted BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-4...
January 21, 2018
What a terribly sad story. All the more poignant as its a true story. How awful it must be for christians living in these terribly backwards lands. Was hoping for a happy ending but it didnt come. Not terribly well written which i imagine was due to the fact Asia never had an education. Couldn.t imagine being brought up the way they were living life like this. Powerfull story
July 29, 2017
3 stars for the writing, not the story. Asia Bibi's story is extremely sad and unfair, and she is still in prison today after seven years. Blasphemy laws are a joke. I hope that one day soon she will be released although the likelihood doesn't seem very high. Poor woman.
October 1, 2020
Another sad book that shows us the human nature in some places is awful . Asia had to endure years of imprisonment, to be humiliated , to feel hunger and barely see her family and so many other things just because she dared to drink some water in very hot weather from the same cup as her Muslim colleagues . To late but finally she could find some peace in the end and I am glad for it. To sad that this is a real story :(
July 25, 2018
This is not a review, for I believe every human being in their right mind would have the same opinion about this story. This is a synopsis of her story, written based on several references apart from this book. This book serves an important story that needs to be told. It can be read in a day, so there's no excuse for anybody not to read it.
Aasiya Noreen Bibi (Asia Bibi) was involved in an argument with a group of Muslim women with whom she had been harvesting berries after the other women grew angry with her for drinking the same water as them. They angrily told her that it was forbidden for a Christian to drink water from the same utensil from which Muslims drink, and some of the other workers considered her to be unclean because she was a Christian. Some arguments ensued. Asia recounts that when they made derogatory statements about her religion, she responded, "I believe in my religion and in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the sins of mankind. What did your Prophet Mohammed ever do to save mankind?. She was subsequently accused of insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad, a charge she denies, and was arrested and imprisoned. Before her incarceration, she had been repeatedly urged by her fellow workers to convert to Islam, which she refused. Later, some of the workers complained to a cleric that Asia insulted Muhammad. A mob came to her house, beating her and members of her family before she was rescued by the police.
The police initiated an investigation about Asia's remarks, resulting in her arrest. She subsequently was imprisoned for over a year before being formally charged. She was convicted of blasphemy by a Pakistani court, receiving a sentence of death by hanging. The verdict, which was reached in a district court, would need to be upheld by a superior court. The appeal hearing was delayed five times. Asia was put in solitary confinement in an 8 x 10 ft cell without windows at the Lahore prison. The Supreme Court suspended her death sentence for the duration of the appeals process. To date, Asia is imprisoned for eight years.
Despite her case has received worldwide attention, she received less sympathy from her neighbors and Islamic religious leaders in the country, some of whom adamantly called for her to be executed. Her family went into hiding after receiving death threats, some of which threatened to kill Asia if released from prison. The family declined to leave the country while she remained in prison, but Italy, France, and Spain all offered to grant her and her family asylum in the event of her release.
The governor of Punjab, Salmaan Taseer, who is a Muslim, was assassinated because of his defense of Asia and opposition to the blasphemy law. Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian cabinet member, was shot dead for he attempted to change the blasphemy laws. The Supreme Court Judge later resigned in a handwritten letter addressed to the President of Pakistan, without stating any specific reasons for his resignation. The chief Justice of Pakistan declined a request for the hearing of the case of Asia. Today, Asia Bibi no longer has a lawyer. No one dare to represent her for fear of being killed.
Aasiya Noreen Bibi (Asia Bibi) was involved in an argument with a group of Muslim women with whom she had been harvesting berries after the other women grew angry with her for drinking the same water as them. They angrily told her that it was forbidden for a Christian to drink water from the same utensil from which Muslims drink, and some of the other workers considered her to be unclean because she was a Christian. Some arguments ensued. Asia recounts that when they made derogatory statements about her religion, she responded, "I believe in my religion and in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the sins of mankind. What did your Prophet Mohammed ever do to save mankind?. She was subsequently accused of insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad, a charge she denies, and was arrested and imprisoned. Before her incarceration, she had been repeatedly urged by her fellow workers to convert to Islam, which she refused. Later, some of the workers complained to a cleric that Asia insulted Muhammad. A mob came to her house, beating her and members of her family before she was rescued by the police.
The police initiated an investigation about Asia's remarks, resulting in her arrest. She subsequently was imprisoned for over a year before being formally charged. She was convicted of blasphemy by a Pakistani court, receiving a sentence of death by hanging. The verdict, which was reached in a district court, would need to be upheld by a superior court. The appeal hearing was delayed five times. Asia was put in solitary confinement in an 8 x 10 ft cell without windows at the Lahore prison. The Supreme Court suspended her death sentence for the duration of the appeals process. To date, Asia is imprisoned for eight years.
Despite her case has received worldwide attention, she received less sympathy from her neighbors and Islamic religious leaders in the country, some of whom adamantly called for her to be executed. Her family went into hiding after receiving death threats, some of which threatened to kill Asia if released from prison. The family declined to leave the country while she remained in prison, but Italy, France, and Spain all offered to grant her and her family asylum in the event of her release.
The governor of Punjab, Salmaan Taseer, who is a Muslim, was assassinated because of his defense of Asia and opposition to the blasphemy law. Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian cabinet member, was shot dead for he attempted to change the blasphemy laws. The Supreme Court Judge later resigned in a handwritten letter addressed to the President of Pakistan, without stating any specific reasons for his resignation. The chief Justice of Pakistan declined a request for the hearing of the case of Asia. Today, Asia Bibi no longer has a lawyer. No one dare to represent her for fear of being killed.
April 21, 2020
Deși mi-ar fi plăcut să fie prezentat și procesul care a dus la eliberarea Asiei și de viața ei din Canada cel puțin cum s-a adaptat , cartea te pune pe gânduri cu privire la provire la probleme precum habotnicia poate chiar și lipsa de educatie
June 3, 2015
Incredible story of what it's like to be innocent and in prison since 2009 for blasphemy in Pakistan. Asia Bibi is a mother of five children and can't see them as she is on death row. She is also in solitary confinement for her own safety; only her husband can visit her. Two government officials trying to change the situation have been assassinated. The book has been written so we won't forget her.
March 1, 2019
Blasphemy, by Asia Bibi, is the memoir of a Catholic woman who was sentenced to death over a cup of water. It tells the story of a simple, illiterate farmer's daughter who was accused of blaspheming against Mohammed and the religion of Islam. This book records what led up to her imprisonment, the first two years of her terrible treatment, and attempts to free her.
On a blazing hot day in June 2009, Mrs. Bibi took part in the big falsa-berry harvest where she hoped to earn 250 rupees for her family. It was hard work. Asia took care to do it well, and by midday, it felt like she was working in an oven. She was dripping in sweat, and could hardly think or move due to the suffocating heat. She went to a well, pulled up a bucketful of water, and drank from it. She began to feel better.
She filled the cup again, and offered it to a woman who looked to be in pain. The woman reached out for it, but at that point, another woman screamed, “Don’t drink that water, it’s haram!” She was saying that it was forbidden to drink the water because the filthy Christian had dirtied it and made it unclean (pg. 20). A violent argument ensues, Jesus is blasphemed by the Muslim woman, and Asia stands her ground. In the days that follow, Mrs. Bibi faces a trial with the village imam, is given the opportunity to convert to Islam, and is beaten when she refuses (pgs. 36-37). She is soon thrown in jail.
She refers to her jail cell as a dungeon. She cannot see the stars or the moon. She cannot see the daylight, sun, trees, or birds (pg. 33). She has a miserable existence. She talks about insects that she miss when they are gone. She describes the coldness of her walls, the darkness, and the disgusting smell of human waste that is almost always around her. These descriptions are regular and common throughout the work. She also speaks of her loneliness, and how she spends hours in her dungeon. This sense of isolation really became pronounced about halfway through the book, and is something that has stuck with me after finishing it. The despair and loneliness in this memoir would be almost too much if it weren’t for the moments of hope that are littered throughout it. Asia regularly flips between being incredibly depressed to being encouraged.
There are two main sources for this encouragement. One is her faith in God. She often thinks of Him, and prays through the Blessed Virgin Mary. Although I don’t agree with praying to God through a saint, I am glad that it helps her survive her horrible situation. When she thinks about God, and reflects on her life, I am impressed by her ability to persevere through the suffering. These reflections and prayers are points of light in the darkness. Her second source of encouragement comes from the nearly weekly visits by her husband, Ashiq. Sometimes others come with him, and when certain things happen, her new-found hope bounces off the page. As I read the book, I had to keep reminding myself that the things she was describing really happened. They were not fiction. Asia’s courage to not give up, and to not convert to Islam, was inspiring.
As I reflect on her story, the last thing that has stayed with with me is just how terrible Muslims treat people in it. I have already mentioned some of the author’s suffering. She is not alone. One woman has half of her face eaten away by acid. Her husband threw it on her while she slept (pg. 16). In another case, an old Muslim man was sentenced to jail for 15 years for throwing away a Koran (pg. 59). It didn’t matter that the man was blind. There is also a woman named Zarmina and her husband. She was a Muslim. While traveling by motorcycle, they crash into a monument dedicated to Muhammad. Both of them were accused of blasphemy and thrown into prison (pg. 83). There are other examples that could be shared, but I will spare you.
This book is a strong example of a truth that came to mind as I finished it. What we read and believe makes a massive impact in how we conduct our lives. The Muslims in this book do horrible things in the name of their supposed religion of peace, and in accordance with Muhammad. On the other hand, Asia Bibi hangs on to her life in a dungeon according to her beliefs. It was an impressive and inspiring book. I recommend it.
Remarkably, as of January 29, 2019, Asia Bibi is out of her dungeon and is at an undisclosed location. I hope that this is true, and I am thankful to God for it.
On a blazing hot day in June 2009, Mrs. Bibi took part in the big falsa-berry harvest where she hoped to earn 250 rupees for her family. It was hard work. Asia took care to do it well, and by midday, it felt like she was working in an oven. She was dripping in sweat, and could hardly think or move due to the suffocating heat. She went to a well, pulled up a bucketful of water, and drank from it. She began to feel better.
She filled the cup again, and offered it to a woman who looked to be in pain. The woman reached out for it, but at that point, another woman screamed, “Don’t drink that water, it’s haram!” She was saying that it was forbidden to drink the water because the filthy Christian had dirtied it and made it unclean (pg. 20). A violent argument ensues, Jesus is blasphemed by the Muslim woman, and Asia stands her ground. In the days that follow, Mrs. Bibi faces a trial with the village imam, is given the opportunity to convert to Islam, and is beaten when she refuses (pgs. 36-37). She is soon thrown in jail.
She refers to her jail cell as a dungeon. She cannot see the stars or the moon. She cannot see the daylight, sun, trees, or birds (pg. 33). She has a miserable existence. She talks about insects that she miss when they are gone. She describes the coldness of her walls, the darkness, and the disgusting smell of human waste that is almost always around her. These descriptions are regular and common throughout the work. She also speaks of her loneliness, and how she spends hours in her dungeon. This sense of isolation really became pronounced about halfway through the book, and is something that has stuck with me after finishing it. The despair and loneliness in this memoir would be almost too much if it weren’t for the moments of hope that are littered throughout it. Asia regularly flips between being incredibly depressed to being encouraged.
There are two main sources for this encouragement. One is her faith in God. She often thinks of Him, and prays through the Blessed Virgin Mary. Although I don’t agree with praying to God through a saint, I am glad that it helps her survive her horrible situation. When she thinks about God, and reflects on her life, I am impressed by her ability to persevere through the suffering. These reflections and prayers are points of light in the darkness. Her second source of encouragement comes from the nearly weekly visits by her husband, Ashiq. Sometimes others come with him, and when certain things happen, her new-found hope bounces off the page. As I read the book, I had to keep reminding myself that the things she was describing really happened. They were not fiction. Asia’s courage to not give up, and to not convert to Islam, was inspiring.
As I reflect on her story, the last thing that has stayed with with me is just how terrible Muslims treat people in it. I have already mentioned some of the author’s suffering. She is not alone. One woman has half of her face eaten away by acid. Her husband threw it on her while she slept (pg. 16). In another case, an old Muslim man was sentenced to jail for 15 years for throwing away a Koran (pg. 59). It didn’t matter that the man was blind. There is also a woman named Zarmina and her husband. She was a Muslim. While traveling by motorcycle, they crash into a monument dedicated to Muhammad. Both of them were accused of blasphemy and thrown into prison (pg. 83). There are other examples that could be shared, but I will spare you.
This book is a strong example of a truth that came to mind as I finished it. What we read and believe makes a massive impact in how we conduct our lives. The Muslims in this book do horrible things in the name of their supposed religion of peace, and in accordance with Muhammad. On the other hand, Asia Bibi hangs on to her life in a dungeon according to her beliefs. It was an impressive and inspiring book. I recommend it.
Remarkably, as of January 29, 2019, Asia Bibi is out of her dungeon and is at an undisclosed location. I hope that this is true, and I am thankful to God for it.
August 15, 2019
„Blasfemie. Condamnată la moarte pentru un pahar cu apă” este povestea adevărată a Asiei Bibi, o femeie creștină născută și crescută în Pakistan, o țară profund musulmană, pe care unii oameni cu mintea scurtă au ajuns să o radicalizeze, transformând chiar și un gest mărunt și nesemnificativ într-o erezie și condamnând omul pentru ceea ce lor li se pare a fi o blasfemie, o ridiculizare a islamului.
Povestea Asiei Bibi, spusă de aceasta pe când se afla în închisoare și scrisă cu ajutorul unei jurnaliste franceze, este o lecție pentru noi toți, indiferent de locul în care ne-am născut. Cărticica aceasta ar trebui să ne învețe că nu trebuie să uităm vreodată să fim mai buni, mai toleranți, să nu uităm să fim oameni în orice circumstanțe și să ne ferim de habotnicie și extremism în gândire. Fanatismul nu are cum să conducă vreodată la ceva bun și este trist că, într-o perioadă în care tehnologia este în floare și informația doar la un click distanță, încă mai e loc la aruncarea în închisoare și condamnarea la moarte a unui om care nu a făcut nimic altceva decât să bea un pahar de apă într-o perioadă a zilei excesiv de caniculară. Întotdeauna, când punem paie pe foc, lucrurile ajung să fie denaturate, dar consecințele nu ar trebui să stea sub semnul tragicului vreodată. O comunitate nu ar trebui să dețină o putere atât de mare asupra unor minorități, ci ar trebui să fie loc sub soare pentru toată lumea.
https://crampeiedesufletblog.wordpres...
Povestea Asiei Bibi, spusă de aceasta pe când se afla în închisoare și scrisă cu ajutorul unei jurnaliste franceze, este o lecție pentru noi toți, indiferent de locul în care ne-am născut. Cărticica aceasta ar trebui să ne învețe că nu trebuie să uităm vreodată să fim mai buni, mai toleranți, să nu uităm să fim oameni în orice circumstanțe și să ne ferim de habotnicie și extremism în gândire. Fanatismul nu are cum să conducă vreodată la ceva bun și este trist că, într-o perioadă în care tehnologia este în floare și informația doar la un click distanță, încă mai e loc la aruncarea în închisoare și condamnarea la moarte a unui om care nu a făcut nimic altceva decât să bea un pahar de apă într-o perioadă a zilei excesiv de caniculară. Întotdeauna, când punem paie pe foc, lucrurile ajung să fie denaturate, dar consecințele nu ar trebui să stea sub semnul tragicului vreodată. O comunitate nu ar trebui să dețină o putere atât de mare asupra unor minorități, ci ar trebui să fie loc sub soare pentru toată lumea.
https://crampeiedesufletblog.wordpres...
October 12, 2018
The title just about says it all, Blasphemy: the True, Heartbreaking Story of the Woman Sentenced to Death Over a Cup of Water. Asia Bibi in 2009 was a Christian woman living in a very rural town in the Punjab Province in Pakistan. She lived there with her loving husband and five children. They got by doing menial jobs and trying to raise their children to be good Christians. They generally got along well with their Muslim neighbors and did their best to respect Muslim customs. She was picking berries along with a dozen or so Muslim women in a field and at mid-day she paused to get a drink of water because of the heat. She pulled up the container from the well and used the cup placed there to drink. She then filled it and was offering it to the woman behind her when several others came running and yelling at her saying because she was a subhuman filthy Christian, she had contaminated the water and Muslims were forbidden to drink. She was accused of insulting Muslims and the Prophet Muhammad, a charge of blasphemy that carries the death penalty. She ran home and after a few days went out in public and went to pick berries again. This time she was set upon by the other women there who beat and kicked her and dragged her by her hair. The police came and saved her from the mob but locked her up in jail under a charge of blasphemy!
This book provides a look at the religious-based criminal justice system in majority Muslim Pakistan. Asia's explanation was listened to but essentially ignored in the face of the version told by the other women, the angry mobs stirred by the local Muslim clerics, and local judges who quickly found her guilty and sentenced her to death by hanging. Over many years her case was appealed to higher courts but was consistently upheld. Her family, meanwhile, went into hiding losing everything they owned. At one point her story was published by wester journalists and made a splash worldwide including the Vatican. Pressure and influence was applied but nothing worked to get her free. The Governor of Punjab Province, also a Christian, intervened on her behalf but he was eventually killed by one of his own bodyguards who considered him by his association with Asia, as guilty also of blasphemy.
This book was published in 2013. Asia has been in solitary confinement since 2009 (nine years) in conditions not even fit for animals with very limited visits by her husband and her attorney. Her case was reviewed by the Pakistani Supreme Court but, as of today, their verdict has not been announced. Speculators are guessing that they may free her after nine years confinement but are delaying in order for the government to prepare to deal with the expected riots and mob violence from the Muslim community. Even if she is freed, she and her family will be targeted for killing by the general Muslim population and clerics have even announced a bounty for any follower of Islam who kills her. So they would have to somehow find their way to another country for relative safety. Keep in mind that this is a true story and real peoples' lives are at risk, over a cup of water!
This book provides a look at the religious-based criminal justice system in majority Muslim Pakistan. Asia's explanation was listened to but essentially ignored in the face of the version told by the other women, the angry mobs stirred by the local Muslim clerics, and local judges who quickly found her guilty and sentenced her to death by hanging. Over many years her case was appealed to higher courts but was consistently upheld. Her family, meanwhile, went into hiding losing everything they owned. At one point her story was published by wester journalists and made a splash worldwide including the Vatican. Pressure and influence was applied but nothing worked to get her free. The Governor of Punjab Province, also a Christian, intervened on her behalf but he was eventually killed by one of his own bodyguards who considered him by his association with Asia, as guilty also of blasphemy.
This book was published in 2013. Asia has been in solitary confinement since 2009 (nine years) in conditions not even fit for animals with very limited visits by her husband and her attorney. Her case was reviewed by the Pakistani Supreme Court but, as of today, their verdict has not been announced. Speculators are guessing that they may free her after nine years confinement but are delaying in order for the government to prepare to deal with the expected riots and mob violence from the Muslim community. Even if she is freed, she and her family will be targeted for killing by the general Muslim population and clerics have even announced a bounty for any follower of Islam who kills her. So they would have to somehow find their way to another country for relative safety. Keep in mind that this is a true story and real peoples' lives are at risk, over a cup of water!
September 24, 2023
No entendí nada ni tampoco me interesaba
April 2, 2016
My Review: This book shows the human side of Pakistan blasphemy law. WE have all heard about it but with this book it shows just what harm it can do not only to Christians but also to other religions. Bibi herself can't read and write but the french journalist that wrote this book did an excellent job in telling her story. THis is a short book I read it in a couple of hours, but it packs a punch. It tells of the situation that led to her jailing and how she was treated.
One thing I have often wondered is how christians in other countries find the courage and strength to stand up for their religion. THis book shows me how Asia Bibi and other Christians do this.
This book is highly recommended. Plus if you buy the book all the royalties go to Bibi and her family.This review was originally posted on Adventures in Never Never Land
One thing I have often wondered is how christians in other countries find the courage and strength to stand up for their religion. THis book shows me how Asia Bibi and other Christians do this.
This book is highly recommended. Plus if you buy the book all the royalties go to Bibi and her family.This review was originally posted on Adventures in Never Never Land
January 15, 2013
A short and undemanding read about a confronting and topical issue, as Asia Bibi is interviewed from within the confines of her prison cell in Pakistan - falsely imprisoned as a Christian woman for the crime of blasphemy. Given that the only people allowed to visit her are her husband and lawyer, the means by which Anne-Isabelle Tollet interviews Asia for this account are unique and clever. Asia and Anne-Isabelle have never met, but Anne-Isabelle has discovered and revealed Asia's deepest, innermost thoughts as she sits confined in a putrid cell, sustaining herself with thoughts of her husband, her children and God, waiting for a death sentence that seems inevitable, unless the world speaks up for her life.
May 19, 2012
É UM LIVRO INTERESSANTE. Têm um forte teor religioso/cristão. No entanto são expostos pontos importantes da cultura paquistanesa. O que é a Blasfémia? Qual o papel do Cristão e das outras minorias religiosas neste país? Porque não se revoltam os que defendem os direitos humanos? Quem os defende e o que lhes acontece? Existe ainda esta mentalidade extremista neste país? Onde é que esta mulher arranjou coragem para enfrentar uma multidão de muçulmanos predispostos a negar-lhe mais anos de vida? Como é que perante uma multidão furiosa não renegou a sua religião?
Bem, são as respostas que poderão encontrar na leitura deste livro.
Bem, são as respostas que poderão encontrar na leitura deste livro.
December 16, 2013
This is the story of a Christian woman in Pakistan who was imprisoned with a death sentence under the guise of blasphemy. Her two advocates in the country's leadership were killed as a result of their alliance with her side. It is amazing to me how much we take our freedoms for granted in the US. And human nature is the same no matter what continent you are on - power can make people ugly and depraved.
March 10, 2016
Unbelievable! This poor woman has been in prison since 2009 for drinking water from a cup at a well and then offering it to her Muslim neighbors. She, being a Christian, is considered unclean. She was sentenced to death under Pakistan's blasphemy laws. Her husband and 5 children have to live in hiding as they are considered blasphemers by association. Please Google Asia Bibi, Voice of the Martyrs, to petition the Pakistani government for her release!
November 4, 2016
I was mortified reading this story of a woman imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan. A Christian woman who got into an argument with Muslim women over a cup of water was accused of blasphemy by her irate villagers.....she was jailed in 2009 and still is in prison today. This woman has had to ensue so much, two men who were openly defending her have been assassinated from coming to her defense. An extremely sad story.
February 16, 2014
Share this book. Read in a day. This poor woman is being held prisoner for blasphemy in Pakistan. Two high officials have been murdered defending her. A Christian minority laborer drank water from a well to ease her thirst dipped the dipper and offered it to Islamic woman...
February 23, 2014
A must read by every person of conscience about an act of evil done to an innocent! Where is the outcry????? Heart breaking, written in a simple voice by a simple lady who just wants to go home, being held prisoner by fanatics for offending some bigots by refusing to take insults.
April 1, 2014
I wish everyone would read this and pray for her. Praying hearts involved with this case in Pakistan will be softened and she will be freed very soon! We are so blessed to have freedom of religion in America! I am thankful I am a Christian in America and heartbroken for people like Asia Bibi.
April 25, 2015
Hard to believe such barbarism exists today..
This poor woman is all I can say. I'll be following her story from now on hoping she is pardoned and whisked immediately out of that country before a violent mob murders her. Absolutely sickening.
This poor woman is all I can say. I'll be following her story from now on hoping she is pardoned and whisked immediately out of that country before a violent mob murders her. Absolutely sickening.
June 2, 2012
U nás vydalo nakladatelství Fragment, pod názvem Rouhání?
Nehodnotím styl psaní, nehodnotím literární úroveň. Mé hvězdičky připadají Asii.. i když jsou naprosto bezvýznamné.
Nehodnotím styl psaní, nehodnotím literární úroveň. Mé hvězdičky připadají Asii.. i když jsou naprosto bezvýznamné.
March 10, 2013
Sad to think this still happens today. This women should not be in jail! A page turner. A very strong brave woman in the face of adveristy
October 7, 2013
shocking, depressing and yet a voice for change
November 27, 2013
Worth reading. Very quick read. Amazing story. Written through the author but in the words of the victim so written in an uneducated voice but real.
November 26, 2018
Interesting and sad. Hard to believe that people are jailed for crimes like this in todays day and age. November 2018 I just saw in the news that this woman has been released. How awesome!
January 10, 2014
A very sad story. I found it could have been written better though. It was a very simple read. I prefer to use my brain a little.
April 7, 2014
Sad story about Asia. I really hope she goes home to her kids and husband one day and soon.
May 26, 2014
An important story that needs to be told! It can be read in a day, so there's no excuse for anybody not to read it.
November 8, 2014
Utterly shattering! the definition of humanity needs to be thought over...
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