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REPORT – In this photo from November 1, 2018, Pakistani protesters burn a poster image of Christian Aasia Bibi in Hyderabad, Pakistan. The Pakistani government grappling with a crisis surrounding Bibi – a Christian woman acquitted of the charge of blasphemy after eight years in prison – now has to deal with "fake" images spread on social media, which would have purpose to show her leave the country. (AP Photo / Pervez Masih, File) The Associated Press
By KATHY GANNON, Associated press
ISLAMABAD (AP) – The Pakistani government, already grappling with a crisis over a Christian woman who has been acquitted of blasphemy charges after eight years in prison, is now forced to deal with "fake" images broadcast on social networks claiming show abroad.
Misleading images have incited the legislature to make death threats, and its purpose is likely to spark radical religious fervor about the case of Aasia Bibi. We do not know who is behind the circulation of images.
Radical Islamists organized mass demonstrations and demanded that it be carried out publicly. They also filed a motion to quash the acquittal of the Supreme Court. The government claims that Bibi remains in Pakistan, in a secret location for his own protection, until the end of the revision process.
Prime Minister Imran Khan warned extremist groups not to use his fate to promote their political goals by staging street protests.
He defended the Supreme Court justices who, on October 21, acquitted the 54-year-old mother of five charges of blasphemy. But he also acquiesced to the demands of Islamists to demand a review of the acquittal as part of an appeal process.
Blasphemy is a very busy affair in Pakistan, where mere allegations of insulting Islam or the Prophet Muhammad can incite crowds to a frenzy of violence. The prosecution carries the death penalty, and critics say the blasphemy law is used to settle religious accounts.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Monday criticized the "false" publications, one of which claims to show that Bibi was meeting with Pope Francis. The photo is actually of Bibi's daughter from two years ago. Bibi and her family have always maintained her innocence and claimed that she had never insulted the prophet of Islam.
Chaudhry said that the mistaken pictures identifying Bibi had resulted in death threats against a legislator, Fazal Khan of the ruling Tehreek-e-Insaf party. The legislature's constituency is in a deeply conservative region of the north-west of the country.
"People can even be killed because of such fake publications," said Chaudhry. The images were widely distributed on social media in Pakistan and broadcast on several groups of local journalists, even a police group and a media group.
"We are trying to seek Twitter and Facebook cooperation against such false information," added Chaudhry.
Bibi's ordeal dates back to 2009, when she went to collect water for herself and her fellow farm workers. A dispute arose after two Muslim women refused to drink in the same container as Bibi, a Catholic. The women then stated that Bibi had insulted the Prophet Muhammad and that she had been accused of blasphemy. She was tried, sentenced to death in 2010.
After the acquittal of Bibi last month, the founder of the radical Tehreek-e-Labbak party, Mohammed Afzal Qadri, issued a fatwa calling for the death of the three Supreme Court justices who pronounced the acquittal and the overthrow of Khan's government. He also incited the military to mutiny.
In 2011, the governor of Punjab province was killed by his own guard after defending Bibi and criticizing the blasphemy law. A year later, the Minister of Minorities was shot dead.
Bibi, who was released last week, is currently being held in a secret and tightly guarded place in Pakistan. Those who know her situation say that she should stay there until the Supreme Court conducts the examination.
Last Sunday, the Prime Minister declared that the decision of the Supreme Court would be final. For now, we do not know when the review will take place or defend Bibi. His lawyer, Saiful Malook, fled the country following his acquittal, fearing for his life.
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