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Pakistan blasphemy case: Asia Bibi freed from jail | Pakistan blasphemy case: Asia Bibi freed from jail |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman acquitted of blasphemy after spending eight years on death row, has been freed from prison. | |
Last week's Supreme Court ruling sparked violent protests from Islamists and the government agreed to their demand to stop her leaving Pakistan. | |
News of her release led to some confusion, with reports she had been taken to another country. | News of her release led to some confusion, with reports she had been taken to another country. |
But the foreign office later said she was still in Pakistan. | |
The case is highly sensitive and Information Minister Fawad Hussein said journalists had been "extremely irresponsible" in reporting she had left the country without official confirmation. | |
Those reports were based on comments from her lawyer, Saiful Malook, who is seeking asylum in the Netherlands after facing death threats. | |
Asia Bibi's husband had said they were in danger and pleaded for asylum. A number of Western countries are understood to have held discussions with Asia Bibi's family about granting them asylum. | |
The mother-of-five was released from prison in the city of Multan on Wednesday and it remains unclear exactly where she is. | |
Also known as Asia Noreen, she was convicted in 2010 of insulting the Prophet Muhammad during a row with neighbours. | Also known as Asia Noreen, she was convicted in 2010 of insulting the Prophet Muhammad during a row with neighbours. |
The Pakistani government has said it will start legal proceedings to prevent her going abroad after agreeing the measure to end the violent protests. | The Pakistani government has said it will start legal proceedings to prevent her going abroad after agreeing the measure to end the violent protests. |
Many of the protesters were hardliners who support strong blasphemy laws and called for Asia Bibi to be hanged. | Many of the protesters were hardliners who support strong blasphemy laws and called for Asia Bibi to be hanged. |
One Islamist leader said all three Supreme Court judges also "deserved to be killed". | One Islamist leader said all three Supreme Court judges also "deserved to be killed". |
A spokesman for the hardline Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) party, which blocked roads in major cities for several days, said Asia Bibi's release was in breach of their deal with the government. | |
"The rulers have showed their dishonesty," TLP spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi told Reuters. | "The rulers have showed their dishonesty," TLP spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi told Reuters. |
The deal also saw officials agree not to block a petition for the Supreme Court to evaluate Asia Bibi's acquittal in the light of Islamic Sharia law. | The deal also saw officials agree not to block a petition for the Supreme Court to evaluate Asia Bibi's acquittal in the light of Islamic Sharia law. |
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. |