Pakistan overturns Christian woman Asia Bibi’s blasphemy death sentence
A Christian woman facing execution in a landmark case which has incited deadly violence learns her fate.
Pakistan’s top court has acquitted a Christian woman who has been on death row since 2010 for insulting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.
In today’s verdict, the court ordered authorities to free Asia Bibi. Ms Bibi was being held at an undisclosed jail for security reasons. The landmark ruling is expected to anger Islamists who had threatened to launch nationwide protests if the court freed her.
Ms Bibi was arrested in 2009 after a quarrel with Muslim women. Islamists have demanded her execution. A governor and a minister of minorities were assassinated in 2011 for supporting her.
Insulting Islam is punishable by death in Pakistan, and the mere rumour of blasphemy can ignite lynchings.
“The appeal is allowed. She has been acquitted. The judgement of high court as well as trial court is reversed. Her conviction is set aside,” said Pakistan’s Chief Justice Saqib Nisar in the ruling.
AP
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