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Pakistan blasphemy case: Asia Bibi flown out of the country | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Pakistani Christian woman acquitted of blasphemy is being flown out of the country after being freed from prison, her lawyer says. | |
Asia Bibi spent eight years on death row before her conviction was overturned last month. | |
The Supreme Court ruling sparked protests from Islamists and the government had said it would bar her from leaving Pakistan. | |
Her husband had said they were in danger and pleaded for asylum. | |
Her lawyer Saif ul Malook said that she was being flown out of Pakistan with her immediate family but he did not know where they were going. | |
Asia Bibi had earlier been released from prison in the city of Multan. | |
Also known as Asia Noreen, she was convicted in 2010 of insulting the Prophet Muhammad during a row with neighbours. | |
Several countries have offered her asylum. | Several countries have offered her asylum. |
The Pakistani government had previously said it would start legal proceedings to prevent her going abroad after agreeing the measure to end the violent protests. | |
What was Asia Bibi accused of? | What was Asia Bibi accused of? |
The trial stems from an argument Asia Bibi had with a group of women in June 2009. | The trial stems from an argument Asia Bibi had with a group of women in June 2009. |
They were harvesting fruit when a row broke out about a bucket of water. The women said that because she had used a cup, they could no longer touch it, as her faith had made it unclean. | They were harvesting fruit when a row broke out about a bucket of water. The women said that because she had used a cup, they could no longer touch it, as her faith had made it unclean. |
Prosecutors alleged that in the row which followed, the women said Asia Bibi should convert to Islam and that she made offensive comments about the Prophet Muhammad in response. | Prosecutors alleged that in the row which followed, the women said Asia Bibi should convert to Islam and that she made offensive comments about the Prophet Muhammad in response. |
She was later beaten up at her home, during which her accusers say she confessed to blasphemy. She was arrested after a police investigation. | She was later beaten up at her home, during which her accusers say she confessed to blasphemy. She was arrested after a police investigation. |
Acquitting her, the Supreme Court said that the case was based on unreliable evidence and her confession was delivered in front of a crowd "threatening to kill her". | Acquitting her, the Supreme Court said that the case was based on unreliable evidence and her confession was delivered in front of a crowd "threatening to kill her". |
Why is this case so divisive? | Why is this case so divisive? |
Islam is Pakistan's national religion and underpins its legal system. Public support for the strict blasphemy laws is strong. | Islam is Pakistan's national religion and underpins its legal system. Public support for the strict blasphemy laws is strong. |
Hard-line politicians have often backed severe punishments, partly as a way of shoring up their support base. | Hard-line politicians have often backed severe punishments, partly as a way of shoring up their support base. |
But critics say the laws have often been used to exact revenge after personal disputes, and that convictions are based on thin evidence. | But critics say the laws have often been used to exact revenge after personal disputes, and that convictions are based on thin evidence. |
The vast majority of those convicted are Muslims or members of the Ahmadi community, but since the 1990s scores of Christians have been convicted. They make up just 1.6% of the population. | The vast majority of those convicted are Muslims or members of the Ahmadi community, but since the 1990s scores of Christians have been convicted. They make up just 1.6% of the population. |
The Christian community has been targeted by numerous attacks in recent years, leaving many feeling vulnerable to a climate of intolerance. | The Christian community has been targeted by numerous attacks in recent years, leaving many feeling vulnerable to a climate of intolerance. |
Since 1990, at least 65 people have reportedly been killed in Pakistan over claims of blasphemy. | Since 1990, at least 65 people have reportedly been killed in Pakistan over claims of blasphemy. |