Pakistani Christian on Death Row Reportedly Gravely Ill

Asia Bibi, a Christian woman awaiting execution in Pakistan for blasphemy, is reportedly gravely ill with chicken pox.

Haroon Barket Masih, president of the Masih Foundation, said Bibi had been kept in solitary confinement for more than three months. He expressed concern over the conditions in which the mother of five is being held.

“She needs medical care, hygienic and healthy conditions,” he said. “She fell ill with chicken pox because of the dirty environment, and being unable to clean her room or bed sheets on which she sleeps.”

Masih said that in spite of her poor health, Bibi is spending her time fasting and praying for others.

“She neglects her health and prays for everyone else,” he said. “She is concerned about the current situation in Pakistan.”

Bibi was the first woman in Pakistan to be sentenced to death for blasphemy by a court last November. She was accused of blaspheming the Muslim Prophet Muhammad. Although she denied committing the offense, Bibi was imprisoned in June 2009 and was handed the death sentence. She currently awaits a court hearing date for her appeal.

The Masih Foundation is providing financial and legal assistance to Bibi as she appeals her conviction.

The foundation is trying to arrange a medical examination for her. It says she has not received any medical care until now.

“Please continue to pray for Asia Bibi who prays and fasts,” he said.

There are grave concerns for her safety after the murders of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, who had spoken in favor of a pardon for Bibi, and Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, who had been seeking changes to the blasphemy laws. Both were killed earlier this year.

Bibi had to be relocated to a women-only prison after extremists threatened to blow up the previous prison in which she was staying.

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