On Tuesday a 3-judge panel of Pakistan’s Supreme Court reaffirmed the Court’s acquittal of Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman who had been accused of blasphemy. Bibi had been acquitted by the Supreme Court in October, but a reported by AP:
Following her October acquittal, radical religious parties took to the streets to protest, calling for the killing of judges who acquitted Bibi and for the overthrow of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government. They also filed the last-minute appeal for a review of the Supreme Court acquittal.
The protests were spearheaded by the radical Tehreek-e-Labbaik party, whose single point agenda is protection of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
Bibi’s case goes to the core of one of Pakistan’s most controversial issues — the blasphemy law, often used to settle scores or intimidate followers of minority religions, including minority Shiite Muslims. A charge of insulting Islam can bring the death penalty.
[Thanks to Tom Rutledge for the lead.]