- Title: Pakistani Christian woman freed after blasphemy death sentence reversed
- Date: 8th November 2018
- Summary: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (NOVEMBER 8, 2018) (REUTERS) PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN, MOHAMMAD FAISAL, ARRIVING FOR WEEKLY BRIEFING REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN, MOHAMMAD FAISAL, SAYING: "Let me state clearly that Asia Bibi remains at a safe place in Pakistan. I would also request all of you, urge all of you, to verify such news before issuing them, in line with the standards of objective and impartial journalism to prevent needless sensationalism and controversy." FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu/ English) PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN, MOHAMMAD FAISAL, SAYING: "She is a free woman now. Her writ is being heard. When a decision is made, she will go wherever she wants to go. It is a free country; she is a free national. She can go wherever she wants to go. No one can object to that. If a free national of Pakistan wants to go somewhere, he/she has to get a visa and go. Nothing odd about that." BRIEFING IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 22nd November 2018 09:51
- Keywords: Pakistan Christian woman blasphemy death sentense freed
- Location: ISLAMABAD/ SHEIKHUPURA , PAKISTAN
- City: ISLAMABAD/ SHEIKHUPURA , PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA00195N9VT1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A Pakistani Christian woman has been freed from prison a week after the Supreme Court overturned her conviction and death sentence for blasphemy against Islam, and she is at a secure location for fear of attacks on her, officials said on Thursday (November 8).
The release of Asia Bibi, a mother of five, prompted immediate anger from a hard-line Islamist party that has threatened to paralyze daily life countrywide with street protests if her acquittal is not reversed.
Bibi, 53, was convicted of blasphemy in 2010 over allegations she made derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbors objected to her drinking water from their glass because she was not Muslim. She always denied having committed blasphemy.
The case has outraged Christians worldwide, and Pope Francis met Bibi's family this year, saying he prayed for her. Italy said on Tuesday it would try to help Bibi, who is Catholic, to leave Pakistan. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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