Christian woman Asia Bibi, last week acquitted on charges of blasphemy after eight years on death row in Pakistan, has been released from prison, her lawyer has reportedly said.
Lawyer Saif-ul-Mulook, who is seeking asylum in the Netherlands, was quoted on numerous news outlets saying that Bibi, who had been held in a prison in Multan, had been released but could not confirm where she was. There were reports she had boarded a plane but the destination was not known.
Italy this week said it was working to help relocate the family of the mother-of-five, also known as Aasiya Noreen, while other governments including Australia and the UK have been urged to offer her asylum. A Canadian broadcaster has offered to sponsor her into that country.
Following protests after the Supreme Court decision to acquit her of the charges, Bibi had remained in prison after Pakistan’s Government reportedly said it would allow a review of her case. Malook had said there were “no grounds” for such a review.
Bibi was charged with blasphemy over an incident in 2009 in which Muslim women labourers objected to sharing a drinking cup with her. It was claimed she had then insulted the Prophet Mohammed, a charge Bibi had denied. She was convicted on blasphemy in 2010.
