- Sputnik International
Asia
Find top stories and features from Asia and the Pacific region. Keep updated on major political stories and analyses from Asia and the Pacific. All you want to know about China, Japan, North and South Korea, India and Pakistan, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Lawyer of Pakistani Christian Woman Acquitted on Blasphemy Flees to Netherlands

© REUTERS / Fayaz AzizSupporters of the Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan, Islamist political party chant slogans, during a protest in Peshawar
Supporters of the Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan, Islamist political party chant slogans, during a protest in Peshawar - Sputnik International
Subscribe
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The lawyer of Asia Bibi, a Christian Pakistani woman whose acquittal on blasphemy charges provoked a backlash in the Islamic republic, has left the country for the Netherlands in fear for his life, the Dutch foundation Relief for Persecuted Christians (HVC) said.

"Asia Bibi's lawyer left Pakistan last Friday. It was too dangerous for him to live in Pakistan. The HVC foundation met him on Saturday. Over recent years, HVC has been financially supporting [Saiful] Malook, so he could continue the defense of Asia Bibi," the foundation said in a statement posted on its website.

The daughters of Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi pose with an image of their mother while standing outside their residence in Sheikhupura located in Pakistan's Punjab Province (File) - Sputnik International
Asia
Freedom of Christian Woman Sentenced to Death Delayed Due to Mass Protests
In late October, the Pakistani Supreme Court acquitted Bibi, a mother of five who was sentenced to capital punishment in 2010 for insulting Prophet Muhammad during a row with Muslim neighbors and has been in custody since them.

The insults were reportedly made after some Muslim women said that her faith made a cup she had used "unclean."

READ MORE: Christian Pakistani Woman Seeks UK Asylum After 'Blasphemy' Acquittal

The acquittal has provoked mass demonstrations in Pakistan, with protesters demanding that the authorities reverse the decision in favor of the death penalty, and take action against the judges who ruled to release the woman.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала