After a petition for her freedom surpassed over half-million signatures, Asia Bibi has sent a letter in which she describes her state of mind before the start of the Easter season as well as renewing her appeal to Pope Francis.
“At Easter, Jesus Christ gives us an example of peace and forgiveness. All of us must learn from the teaching and sacrifice of Christ who was crucified for us and who forgave all those who harmed him,” the imprisoned Pakistani woman condemned to death for blasphemy writes.
“On this special day I ask Christians in Pakistan to live and pray for peace,” Bibi continues, who then asks the Holy Father “to send out a special prayer for peace in the world and for me.” A first letter to the Pope was sent by Bibi on October 25th, 2014.
According to La Stampa’s Vatican Insider, Joseph Nadeem, director of Lahore’s Renaissance Education Foundation that provides Bibi with legal assistance, met with her on Thursday alongside her husband, Ashiq.
“Asia is ok both physically and mentally” and “spends her days between pain and hope, a hope rooted in Christ which does not abandon her,” Nadeen told the Italian news agency.
At the same time, Bibi “seemed very worried after the attacks on the church in Youhanabad, she was especially concerned for her family.”
“She asked us at the Foundation to guarantee her husband and children’s safety. We are doing all that we can.”
In the meantime, the city of Paris (France) has mobilized, declaring her an honorary citizen. “To be an honorary citizen is to embody the values of Paris, the values of liberty and tolerance. By this bold gesture, I wish to testify to the solidarity of Paris towards the numerous women around the world of all confessions who are victims of religious obscurantism and political extremism,” Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said.
