Months After Acquittal In Blasphemy Case, Asia Bibi Leaves Pakistan To Take Asylum In Canada
After being given a clean chit over blasphemy charges by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Asia Bibi, who belongs to the country’s Christian minority, has finally left the country and has taken asylum in Canada, reports The Guardian.
“Asia Bibi has left Pakistan and reached Canada. She has reunited with her family. Justice has been dispensed,” Saiful Malook stated.
Bibi spent some eight years on death row on accusations of insulting Prophet Muhammad during an argument with her Muslim neighbours in 2010.
Under the Pakistan penal code, blasphemy is punishable by death or life imprisonment. Widely criticised by international human rights groups, the law has been used disproportionately against minorities and journalists. Rumours of insulting can even lead to massive lynchings.
Two high-profile politicians who came to Bibi’s support were murdered by Islamic fundamentalists. Serving as the governor of Punjab province at the time, Salman Taseer was shot dead by one of his guards in 2011.
Similarly, Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti was murdered by Taliban gunmen.
After her acquittal, Islamist groups such as the Tehreek-e-Labbaik carried out mass demonstrations against the judgement.