Asia Bibi, a 45-year-old Christian Pakistani woman was sentenced to death on Monday 8 November 2010 for blasphemy. She is the first woman ever to receive the death sentence for blasphemy in Pakistan.

A Voice of the Martyrs spokesperson said, “We have 7 days to appeal this [decision to the High Court], which of course we will. This is very serious!”

No one sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan has yet been executed – but Asia could now spend years in appalling conditions in prison on death row. It may take years before her appeal is heard.

Asia was arrested in June 2009 after Muslims accused her of making derogatory comments against Islam’s prophet, Mohammed. Her trial lasted 16 months and the judge yesterday handed down to Asia the maximum sentence of death for the crime of blasphemy against Islam. Read more of Asia’s story here.

Voice of the Martyrs workers met with Asia last week to encourage and pray for her. During this meeting Asia said,

“It does not matter to me whether I am sentenced or whether the judge will set me free because I know that I am innocent and most of all I know that the Lord is with me. They persecuted Jesus also and the Bible says that they will persecute us as well.”

Ashiq Masih, her husband, said he had not had the heart to break the news to two of their children. “I haven’t told two of my younger daughters about the court’s decision,” he said. “They asked me many times about their mother but I can’t get the courage to tell them that the judge has sentenced their mother to capital punishment for a crime she never committed.”

This is an URGENT call for us to be BOUND WITH THEM, to stand side by side with Asia in prayer, trusting that God can work in this terrible situation. This is what Thirteen Three is all about, mobilizing Australian youth to support Christians like Asia Bibi who are counted worthy of suffering for the Name of Christ.

Will you be BOUND WITH Asia Bibi?

Here are three things I am urging you to do right now to support Asia:
1. LIFT UP your prayers for Asia Bibi. Stop right now and pray. Call people to pray at your church, school and youth group.
2. SPEAK UP and make your voice heard. Share this story through email, facebook and twitter (see bleow). We need to mobilize Christians from all around Australia to pray for Asia this week.
3. Write a letter to encourage Asia Bibi in her own language at www.prisoneralert.com

This Sunday is the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church (IDOP) – a time when Christians all around the world have committed to remember our persecuted family in prayer. Please pray that…

• Asia will fix her eyes on the eternal glory that is hers in Christ which far outweighs the light and momentary troubles she is facing now (2 Corinthians 4:17).

• Asia will be bold and courageous as she bears witness to God’s love in the Gospel.
May she share Christ abundantly with those who are persecuting her and calling for her execution.

• Asia’s family will continue to trust Jesus through this persecution. May they look to the God of all comfort knowing that just as they share in the sufferings of Christ, so also their comfort abounds through Christ (2 Corinthians 1:5)