Another person saw her drinking water from a cup that had previously been used by Muslims, and informed Bibi that it was not proper for a Christian to use that cup, as she was unclean. An argument ensued, and Bibi was reported to a Muslim cleric five days later for her supposed blasphemy. Bibi and her family were the only Christians in the area, and had faced pressure to convert to Islam.
She was convicted of blasphemy in 2010, and was sentenced to death by hanging. She immediately appealed. The Lahore High Court upheld conviction in 2014, which she then appealed to the country's Supreme Court. The Supreme Court agreed to hear her appeal in 2015.
Since her arrest, Bibi has garnered international support from numerous world leaders calling for her immediate release, including Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. In 2015, Pope Francis met with her daughter and offered prayers.
In Pakistan, Islamic hardliners have been calling for her execution since her initial conviction. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he supports the country's harsh blasphemy laws.
If her appeal fails, Bibi would become the first person in Pakistan to be executed for blasphemy. In Pakistan, the crime of defaming Muhammad carries a mandatory death sentence.
Pakistan's blasphemy laws impose strict punishment on those who desecrate the Quran or who defame or insult Muhammad. Pakistan's state religion is Islam, and around 97 percent of the population is Muslim.