Asia Bibi begins new life in Canada – but her ordeal may not be over
Asia Bibi has
arrived in Canada hoping to start a new life after her years on death
row. But although there is huge relief among campaigners for religious freedom
that she is out of Pakistan, her ordeal may not be over. Islamic extremists
have pledged to pursue the Christian woman and kill her for the act of
blasphemy of which she was accused and later acquitted. Bibi may spend the rest
of her days looking over her shoulder in fear of an international assassin.
Bibi’s backstory is
well known after international attention was focused on her case. The former
farm labourer was sentenced to death on flimsy evidence in 2010 after being
accused of blasphemy in a dispute with Muslim women in her village over a cup
of water. Two Pakistani politicians were later killed for publicly supporting
her and criticising the country’s draconian blasphemy laws.
She won the support of
Pope Francis and Christian organisations around the world. Eventually last
October, Pakistan’s supreme court overturned
her conviction, triggering violent protests throughout Pakistan and calls
for the judges in the case to be killed. The violence was led by the Islamic
group Tehreek-e-Labbaik, dedicated to upholding Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy
laws. Although Bibi was
freed from prison, she was kept in legal limbo in protective custody while
negotiations were under way to find her and her family a new home. Her family
went into hiding and claimed
they were being hunted down by extremists, going from house to house
with photographs.
A number of countries
were involved in efforts to find Bibi and her family a safe haven, but Canada
quickly emerged as the most likely destination. Two of Bibi’s daughters
relocated to Canada earlier
this year, while Bibi continued to be held in custody. No details have been
revealed on Bibi’s immediate whereabouts in Canada or where the family might
establish a new home. But the months since her acquittal should have provided
the Canadian authorities time to work out a plan, which may involve a new
identity... Christians make up
only 1.59% of Pakistan’s population of more than 200 million, but about half of
those accused of blasphemy in the country are non-Muslims. According to Open
Doors, which monitors Christian persecution around the world, Pakistan’s
blasphemy laws “target Christians in particular”... read more:
