ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Martha Bibi, a Christian accused of blasphemy against Islam, was released on bail from a Pakistani prison May 3. The 40-year-old woman had been held since Jan. 22 on charges of making derogatory remarks against the Quran, Islam’s holy book, and "defiling" the name of Mohammed. The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) said the false charges were lodged by Muslim contractors who didn’t want to pay for materials supplied by Bibi and her husband, a bricklayer. She was charged under Pakistan’s notorious "blasphemy law," which allows non-Muslims to be jailed merely on the testimony of witnesses that an offense has occurred. The law is routinely used to persecute Christians and other religious minorities. The penalties often include lengthy jail terms and even death sentences.
APMA’s lawyers told AsiaNews she was "physically worn out but overjoyed that she survived. She has not stopped thanking God for allowing justice to triumph. … This case and the release order show once again that the blasphemy law only serves as a means to settle personal disputes, always to the detriment of minorities. This is why it should be completely abolished."
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