Update on Asia Bibi

Controversy is erupting in the Asia Bibi case. Unfortunately, it is not likely to help her in her attempts to win her freedom.

Apparently the controversy is over who actually represents Asia Bibi legally. The Masihi Foundation claims that they represent her, but her husband disputes that.

Key passage:

The Masihi Foundation, which describes itself as a humanitarian organization and claims to be Bibi's legal counsel, published what it said was an interview with Bibi from her Pakistani prison, where it claimed to have found her mistreated, in poor health and near mental illness.

But The Express Tribune in Pakistan, an affiliate of the International Herald Tribune, reported that Shahid Khan, home secretary of the Punjab region where Bibi is imprisoned, gave no permission for such a visit, and officials at the jail where Bibi is being held denied the visit ever happened. Furthermore, Bibi's husband Ashiq told The Express Tribune that he saw Asia over Christmas and didn't notice any health problems.

"I asked Asia and she says no one met her," he said. "The Masihi Foundation is trying to earn money out of my wife's name."

The husband also told The Express Tribune that Masihi Foundation is no longer Bibi's legal representation.

"We do not think it is advisable to pursue Aasia's case right now under the current government," he said. "We are in touch with some top lawyers in the country."

The Masihi Foundation countered by claiming it still represents Bibi and accusing her husband, who signed a contract with a publisher for a book on Asia, of looking to enrich himself.

"Ashiq is only interested in money-making, which he has been involved in ever since international support started coming in for Aasia," Haroon Barkat, the head of MF, told The Express Tribune.

I have no idea who is the guilty party in this case, although my sympathy tends to be with the husband and the family. But I hope and pray that God intervenes to stop this. Shouldn't this be about freeing a wrongfully imprisoned mother of five children?

Here is the Express Tribune story.

UPDATE: Link to the original story in the Baptist Press has been fixed.

For those who do not know who she is, here is the story about Asia Bibi's unjust imprisonment and death sentence for "blasphemy" against the Prophet Muhammad.

Please continue to pray for Asia Bibi and her family.