Half a million people call for release of Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi

BARTLESVILLE, OKLA. January 27, 2012. (ChristianNewsToday.com) More than 560,000 people around the world have signed a petition asking the Pakistani government to release Asia Bibi

a Christian wife and mother falsely accused of blasphemy against Mohammed and sentenced to death by a Pakistani court. Bibi has appealed the conviction to the Lahore High Court, but is still in jail pending the outcome of her appeal. If the High Court upholds the guilty verdict and death sentence, the case could be appealed to Pakistan's Supreme Court. The online petition, at www.CallForMercy.com, was launched by The Voice of the Martyrs after 150,000 Pakistani Christians started the petition calling for justice for Asia Bibi and better protection of religious minorities in Pakistan. VOM sister offices in other countries have also promoted the petition drive, and people from more than 100 nations have signed thus far. VOM is delivering petition signatures to the Pakistani Embassy in Washington DC. The goal is to collect one million signatures asking for Bibi's release. VOM made the first petition delivery-more than 400,000 signatures-to the embassy in November. The signatures were accepted by an official at the embassy, who encouraged VOM staff to be patient with the legal process inside Pakistan. The official pointed out that even if the High Court does not overturn the death penalty, the Supreme Court of Pakistan could do so. And if the Supreme Court doesn't, the case could be appealed to Pakistan's president.