Court thwarts pardon of Pakistani facing death in blasphemy case

A surprise court intervention Monday in Pakistan could delay for years, or even scuttle, the chances of a presidential pardon for a Christian woman who's been condemned to death for blasphemy, lawyers and activists said.

The case of Asia Bibi has raised an international outcry, including a plea for mercy from Pope Benedict. The blasphemy law in majority-Muslim Pakistan is controversial. Its targets are mostly Christians and members of an Islamic minority sect known as Ahmedis, who often are convicted on seeming hearsay. ...

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But the issue has provoked strong passions in Pakistan, including street demonstrations by religious hard-liners, who proclaim that a blasphemy conviction is so grave that it must be punished by death.

I have to say this, these people are crazy! So blood thirsty.