| London musicians sing: 'Free Asia Bibi from Pakistan's Death Row now!' |
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Posted: Thursday, April 19, 2012 8:14 pm
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ooberfuse
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The third anniversary of Asia Bibi’s death row imprisonment will be marked by a peace rally and concert outside the Pakistani Embassy in London at 12pm, on Thursday, 14 June 2012.
On 14 June 2009 Asia Bibi, mother of five, was condemned to death by hanging by a Pakistani court. Her crime was to refuse to convert to Islam, holding firm to her Christian faith in the face of aggressive lengthy interrogations.
Interspersed between musical contributions from Pakistani singer/songwriter, Hammad Bailey and East-meets-West band, ooberfuse, there will be readings from Asia’s autobiography, translated into English for the first time and the first public performance of new single ‘Free Asia Bibi.’
In her autobiography Asia says : "My world was turned upside down one day in June. The day should have been like any other. When I woke up in the morning I never imagined that this Sunday would change my life forever. June 14th is etched on my mind. I still recall all the details".
Wilson Chowdhry from the British Pakistani Christian Association said: "Until Asia Bibi is freed from the hellish prison where she has spent the last three years we should use all the opportunities we have in the UK to speak out on her behalf and for all those whose political and religious freedoms are compromised in any way".
Hal St John, from ooberfuse, says: "Translating Asia’s autobiography into English has brought vividly to life the nightmare ordeal she and her family have been subjected to over the last three years. It is difficult for Western people like me, who take their religious freedoms so much for granted, to fully comprehend the violent and dark forces that can be at work elsewhere. For example, the Governor of Punjab, Salmaan Taseer, was assassinated by a member of his security team because of his defence of Bibi. Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minorities, met a similar fate for saying that we should “not kill in the name of religion, but love one another.”
Front-woman for ooberfuse Cherrie Anderson says: "we hope that the song Free Asia Bibi, performed in conjunction with Hammad Bailey, will help to spread the word about the grave injustice Asia and others like her are enduring today around the world." |
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