- Title: Islamists protest release of Pakistani Christian woman acquitted of blasphemy
- Date: 8th November 2018
- Summary: KARACHI, PAKISTAN (NOVEMBER 8, 2018) (REUTERS) PLACARD HELD BY PROTESTERS READING (English) "RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE RESPECT FOR MOHAMMAD" PROTESTERS WAVING ISLAMIST PARTY FLAGS, CHANTING (Urdu): "HANG CURSED ASIA" AND "GOD IS GREATEST" PROTESTERS WAVING FLAGS, AND ONE HOLDING UP PLACARD READING (Urdu): "NO TO RELEASE OF ASIA, THE CURSED" PLACARD HELD BY PROTESTER READING (Urdu): "NO TO RELEASE OF ASIA, THE CURSED" DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING (Urdu): "OUR LIVES ARE TO BE SACRIFICED OVER PROPHET'S HONOUR" YOUNG PROTESTER WEARING HEADBAND READING (Urdu): "OUR LIVES ARE TO BE SACRIFICED OVER PROPHET'S HONOUR" PROTESTERS SITTING PROTESTER CHANTING (Urdu): "GO IMRAN (KHAN) GO" AUDIO OF A PROTEST LEADER SAYING (Urdu): "ARE YOU READY TO GO TO ISLAMABAD?" AND PROTESTERS SAYING YES BY RAISING HANDS A LEADER ADDRESSING PROTESTERS WHILE OTHER LEADERS SIT ON STAGE PROTEST LEADERS SITTING ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) HEAD OF MUTTAHIDA MAJLIS-E-AMAL (MMA), AN ALLIANCE OF SEVERAL POLITICAL RELIGIOUS PARTIES, MAULANA FAZL-UR-REHMAN, SAYING: "In every nook and corner of the country, the sons of Islam have opined against the Supreme Court verdict by coming on to the streets. The judgement of the Supreme Court in which the blasphemer Asia was acquitted, the people gave their verdict against it. The court of Pakistan's people has rejected the decision of the Supreme Court. We do not accept any such decision which is made under international pressure." PROTESTERS CHANTING (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) HEAD OF MUTTAHIDA MAJLIS-E-AMAL (MMA), AN ALLIANCE OF SEVERAL POLITICAL RELIGIOUS PARTIES, MAULANA FAZL-UR-REHMAN, SAYING: "What kind of verdict is this from the Supreme Court of an Islamic republic which is worrying Muslims but satisfying infidels?" PROTESTERS WAVING PARTY FLAGS PROTESTERS LISTENING, ONE HOLDING UP PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) HEAD OF MUTTAHIDA MAJLIS-E-AMAL (MMA), AN ALLIANCE OF SEVERAL POLITICAL RELIGIOUS PARTIES, MAULANA FAZL-UR-REHMAN, SAYING: "She (Asia) was released last night. Her whereabouts is unknown, whether she is being kept in Pakistan or she has been handed over to some other country. But, I announce here with your consent that big protests will be staged after Friday prayers across the country tomorrow." PROTESTERS LISTENING TO SPEECH CROWD
- Embargoed: 22nd November 2018 17:13
- Keywords: Asia Bibi Pakistan Blasphemy Blasphemy protests Karachi Tehreek-e-Labaik Christian
- Location: KARACHI, PAKISTAN
- City: KARACHI, PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Fundamental Rights/Civil Liberties,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00195NC56V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of Islamists protested in Karachi on Thursday (November 8) against the release of a Pakistani Christian woman who had been freed from prison after her conviction and death sentence for blasphemy against Islam were overturned.
Officials said Asia Bibi was at a secure location in the country, dismissing some media reports that she had been flown abroad, which would enrage hardline Islamists who have been protesting against her release and calling for her to be banned from leaving.
The release overnight prompted immediate anger from an Islamist party that has threatened to paralyse the country with street protests if her acquittal is not reversed.
The protest on Thursday was organised by Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), an alliance of several political religious parties. MMA's leader Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman told the crowds that more protests were planned on Friday (November 9) across the country.
Bibi, a mother of five, was convicted of blasphemy in 2010 over allegations she made derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbours objected to her drinking water from their glass because she was not Muslim. She always denied having committed blasphemy. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
