Tag: Asia Bibi

Mike Pompeo asks Pakistan to do more on religious freedom

Releasing an annual report on international religious freedom, Pompeo estimated that more than 40 others were serving life sentences or facing execution for blasphemy in Pakistan.

June 22, 2019

Flight to Freedom

Asia Bibi’s case horrifyingly illustrates the dangers of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and the dire imperative to repeal them

May 10, 2019

Asia Bibi, Christian woman acquitted in blasphemy case, leaves Pakistan: Reports

Asia Bibi, a 47-year-old mother of five, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours.

May 8, 2019

Victory once more

On closer reflection, Tuesday’s verdict is a robust iteration of the acquittal order that was pronounced on 31 October last year.

January 31, 2019

Blasphemy and the Court

It is open to question how Imran Khan‘s government will countenance the threat posed. It is likely that the Army will broker some sort of a truce between the government and the Islamists. The army is apparently playing on the backfoot because the agitators have arraigned the Army Chief, General Qamar Bajwa, because of pro-Ahmedi leanings.

December 4, 2018

Cleric who led protests against Asia Bibi’s acquittal arrested

The Pakistan government on Saturday announced that the hardline Islamist leader who had led protests against the acquittal of blasphemy charged death row convict Asia Bibi, has been arrested.

November 24, 2018

Blasphemy protests: Pakistan court refuses to try Islamists

Protests organized by the TLP broke out nationwide almost immediately after the verdict, practically paralyzing Pakistan for three days.

November 13, 2018

Imran missed a chance in Asia Bibi case

Pakistan was up in arms followed by frenzied violence following the Supreme Court’s extraordinary verdict acquitting Asia Bibi, the Christian woman tried on blasphemy charges. The country was held to ransom for several days by bigots and religious extremists with incidents of violence reported in several major cities including Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi. What was...

November 10, 2018

Italian lawmakers back protection for Asia Bibi, her family

Asia Bibi was released from jail in Multan, Pakistan, on Thursday following her acquittal of blasphemy last week by the Supreme Court after eight years on death row.

November 9, 2018

Pakistan blasphemy case: Asia Bibi released from jail, to be shifted to the Netherlands

Asia Bibi, a 47-year-old mother of four, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours.

November 8, 2018

Pakistan blasphemy case: Asia Bibi’s husband pleads for asylum

The case began in June 2009 when Bibi was asked to fetch water while out working in the fields. Muslim women labourers objected, saying that as a non-Muslim, she should not touch the water bowl, and reportedly a fight erupted.

November 4, 2018

Seminal judgment

It is a victory for tolerance and rationality in the Islamic, albeit mildly theocratic, Pakistan. This is quite the most significant aspect of last Wednesday’s Supreme Court judgment that after nine years has binned the conviction of Asia Bibi, a Christian and mother of four, in a blasphemy case. In judicial terms, it signifies a...

November 4, 2018

‘Need to stay alive’: Asia Bibi’s lawyer leaves Pakistan citing threat to life

On Friday night, the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan party (TLP), which has largely led the demonstrations, announced an end to mass protests after reaching a deal with the government.

November 3, 2018

Normalcy returns in Pakistan as protest over acquittal of Asia Bibi halts

Extremists chiefly belonging to Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan and other factions took to streets against the verdict and blocked main roads in all major cities as well as several highways and motorways.

November 3, 2018

Protests over Asia Bibi’s acquittal called off

A radical Islamist group on Saturday called off protests in Pakistan against the acquittal of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman, who had been charged with blasphemy.

November 3, 2018

Radicals call for strike to protest Asia Bibi’s acquittal

The government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan decided on Thursday to engage in talks with the TLP, a day after urging the radicals not to go against the state.

November 2, 2018

Asia Bibi likely to be flown out of Pakistan amid protests

Asia Bibi’s lawyer on Thursday said that his client should leave Pakistan for her safety amid widespread protests by radical Islamist groups.

November 1, 2018