No immediate pardon for Asia Bibi, Card. Tauran in Pakistan

Pakistani officials say the country's president will not immediately pardon Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death under the country’s blasphemy law. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Vatican Council for Inter-religious dialogue, is in Pakistan. He has met with the civil authorities, including the Minister for Religious Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, and the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari to convey to Zardari the Holy See's concern over Asia Bibi, and express Pope Benedict's appeal for clemency.

The death sentence against Mrs. Bibi has called new attention to Pakistan's blasphemy law. Critics say it is being used to settle personal vendettas. In the coming days the Cardinal will meet with the Catholic community and various Commissions of the Episcopal Conference and will also speak at an interreligious meeting.

Speaking to Vatican Radio Archbishop Lawrence John Saldanha of Lahore says Bibi’s case highlights “how dangerous these laws are and how from something so small, such as an argument between a group of women, something so serious can take place”.

The Archbishop adds that the infamous blasphemy laws target all civil society as a whole; “since they were first introduced over 1000 cases have been reported, over half of them against Muslims”. However he adds, “there can be no comparison in how they affect the minorities. For example when a Christian is accused of blasphemy then his or her family and the entire Christian community often pay the consequences”, which can come in the form of discrimination, persecution and even violence. Instead “when a Muslim is accused of blasphemy then he or she as an individual pays and no one else”. Listen to Emer McCarthy’s full interview with Archbishop Saldanha: