Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for ALL people — without exception.  We reject oppression of religious minorities.

In Pakistan, Christian woman Rubina Bibi and her 1 and 1/2 year old son Yashwa have been freed from prison after Additional and Session Judge Mohammad Asghar Khan in Wazirabad district set her free in Gujranwala, Punjab.  She has now arrived in Lahore, according to various Christian media sources.  On July 19, 2010, two Pakistan Christian brothers were shot to death in the street in broad daylight on the Faisalband Court House steps, after being exonerated of blasphemy charges, which are often used to falsely accuse others to settle personal grudges or to oppress religions minorities.

The Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) reported that Rubina Bibi had been exonerated after being pressured into a false confession.

According to the CLASS press release, “A Pakistani Christian woman and her infant son, who spent nearly six months in prison on a false charge of blasphemy, have won a bid for their freedom. Gujranwala session judge, Mohammad Asghar Khan, yesterday [Wednesday, 11 August, 2010] dropped charges against Rubina Bibi who had been accused of blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed by a local Muslim shopkeeper following a dispute over a food product (butter) she had bought and tried to return.”

“Ms. Bibi was arrested in March and would have faced the mandatory death penalty if convicted under section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code. The 25-year-old mother of three spent almost six months in Gujranwala jail with her one and a half year old son, Joshua, but was released late yesterday following the judge’s ruling. Ms. Bibi’s accuser had recently offered to settle the matter out of court if she converted to Islam.”

“CLAAS has been providing legal aid for Ms. Bibi since her arrest, and supporting her family throughout the ordeal. She was denied bail several times and Muslim extremists groups reportedly tried to influence the outcome of the case against her. Ms. Bibi and her family, including her husband and two other children, have been moved to an unknown location for their safety.”

“Nasir Saeed, Director of CLAAS-UK said, ‘Although CLAAS has a life-saving track record,  in this case I am very happy as Rubina is only 25 years old and even her one and half year old son was imprisoned with her, which was very unfair. We are grateful to everybody who has been praying for Rubina’s release. Rubina has been cleared of blasphemy charges in a very short period of time and we all know that normally these cases take years and years to be settled.'”

“CLAAS campaigns for Pakistan’s blasphemy laws to be amended and ultimately repealed, as they are often used to settle personal grudges against Christians and other religious minorities.”

===========================

Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

===========================
Related reports:

March 24, 2010 – COMPASS: Christian Woman Jailed under Pakistan’s ‘Blasphemy’ Laws

August 12, 2010 – COMPASS: Pakistani Court Acquits Christian Woman of ‘Blasphemy’

Pakistan Christian Post: Judge drops blasphemy charges, frees Christian mother and infant son

Pakistani Court Acquits Christian Woman of ‘Blasphemy’