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Jailed Pakistani Mom Asia Bibi's Life on Hold

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One of the judges hearing the appeal of jailed Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi has recused himself from the case.

The decision by Justice Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rehman caused the Pakistan Supreme Court today to postpone the hearing of Bibi's final appeal.

Are Pakistan's judges afraid to decide Asia Bibi's case? Todd Nettelton of The Voice of the Martyrs tells CBN News that her case is a no-win situation for judges.

Justice Rehman claimed a conflict of interest because he sat on the court that heard the case of a man who murdered the governor of Punjab for speaking out against blasphemy laws.

"I was part of the bench that was hearing the case of Salman Taseer, and this case is related to that," Rehman wrote in a letter to the chief justice.

Body guard Mumtaz Qadri shot and killed Taseer after the governor met with Asia Bibi at her prison and called for reforms to Pakistan's 295 blasphemy law.

The law is based on sharia, and section C mandates execution for those convicted of blasphemy against Mohammed.

Bibi was arrested in June 2009 following an argument with her Muslim co-workers who refused to drink from the same water bowl with her. They claimed it was contaminated because she's a Christian.

When Bibi defended her faith, the workers accused her of insulting the Islamic prophet Mohammed. She was arrested and charged with blasphemy, and after more than 30 hearings, she was sentenced to death by a judge.

In July 2015, Pakistan's high court suspended Bibi's death sentence. The chief justice will appoint another judge to the bench to hear the appeal. A new hearing date has yet to be scheduled.

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About The Author

Gary Lane
Gary
Lane

Mr. Lane currently serves as International News Director and Senior International Correspondent for CBN News. He has traveled to more than 120 countries—many of them restricted nations or areas hostile to Christianity and other minority faiths where he has interviewed persecution victims and has provided video reports and analysis for CBN News. Also, he has provided written stories and has served as a consultant for the Voice of the Martyrs. Gary joined The Christian Broadcasting Network in 1984 as the first full-time Middle East Correspondent for CBN News. Based in Jerusalem, Gary produced