Asia Bibi, a Christian women acquitted of blasphemy last year after spending eight years on death row, has left Pakistan for Canada to be reunited with her daughters, according to reports.
Bibi, who has always maintained her innocence, was convicted of blasphemy in 2010 following a dispute with a fellow farm labourer involving a cup of water. She had been under a death sentence until Pakistan’s Supreme Court overturned her conviction last October. The decision was upheld in January.
Asia Bibi, also known as Aasiya Noreen.
The decision sparked violent protests in Pakistan with Islamic extremists calling for her death. Bibi has been in protective custody since then but several sources have now reportedly confirmed her departure for Canada.
As well as officials in Pakistan’s Government, they include Wilson Chowdhry of the British Pakistani Christian Association who said he had received a text message from a British diplomat confirming her departure. Her lawyer, Saif-ul Malook, told the BBC that she had already arrived in Canada, where two of her daughters were understood to have been granted asylum.
The news has prompted statements of support from around the world with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issuing a statement saying the US welcomed the news that “Asia Bibi has safely reunited with her family”.
“Asia Bibi is now free, and we wish her and her family all the best following their reunification,” the statement said. “The United States uniformly opposes blasphemy laws anywhere in the world, as they jeopardise the exercise of fundamental freedoms.”
UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeted that it was “fantastic news” that Bibi appeared to have left Pakistan safely.
Christian groups which have long been advocating for her release also welcomed the news.
Paul Robinson, CEO of UK-based Release International, said the group was “over-joyed that Asia is finally free” but questioned why it took so long and called on Pakistan’s Government to “act now to safeguard its Christian minority against mob reprisals by stepping up security against any suggestion of rioting and violence”.
“And it must urgently review the case against every other prisoner who has been accused and jailed for blasphemy.”
The BPCA’s Wilson Chowdhry said he had been in daily communication with Bibi’s husband, Ashiq Masih, and that both she had her husband remained “resolute in their faith”.
But he added that Asia Bibi was unwell, having suffered “10 years of isolation both in and out of captivity – she must be treated with utmost care and receive appropriate medical care now she is free”.
The BPCA say they are tracking 14 other cases of Christians who remain in prison in Pakistan following accusations of blasphemy.
Meanwhile, Bibi’s daughter Eicham, who was just nine-years-old when her mother was charged with blasphemy, has told World Watch Monitor she wants to become a lawyer so she can defend people falsely accused like she says her mother was.
