Islamabad/London: Britain has not offered asylum to a Pakistani Christian woman freed after eight years on death row for blasphemy because of fear it would prompt attacks and “unrest” here, her supporters claim. Asia Bibi and her family had appealed for sanctuary in Britain after her conviction was quashed by Pakistan’s supreme court.
The acquittal of the 53-year-old Catholic farm worker prompted days of demonstrations by hardline Muslim religious parties in Pakistan who had campaigned for her to be hanged.
The mother-of-five remains hidden in Pakistan after Imran Khan’s government agreed to allow a petition against the court decision.
A UK campaign group in touch with the family said the Government was working to help Asia Bibi, but had stopped short of offering asylum.
Wilson Chowdhry, of the British Pakistani Christian Association, said: “Britain was concerned about potential unrest in the country, attacks on embassies and civilians.
“They have not offered automatic asylum, whereas several countries have now come forward. The family will definitely not be coming to Britain.”
He said Britain was “being helpful”, but it was “an enduring shame that a country with such a lauded history of helping refugees and asylum seekers, that when the Asia Bibi case has come before them, they haven’t been as generous as they have for many victims in the past”.
He added: “It does seem to me that Britain is now a country that is unsafe for those who may be tarred with an allegation of blasphemy.
“We are very aware that there are extremist elements in this country. Britain would have been one of their first choices. America, Britain and Canada, these would have been their first choices.”
Plan to leave Pakistan
He said a plan for her to leave Pakistan was being drawn up.
Damian Green MP, the former Cabinet Office minister, who with 19 other Catholic MPs and peers has written to the Government urging it to allow her to come to the UK, said: “It would be very disturbing if that was on ministers’ minds. It would clearly be unacceptable if that was the case.”
A candlelight vigil for Bibi will be held outside Pakistan’s High Commission in London on Monday afternoon.
Her difficulties began as she picked berries with other farm workers in a Punjab field in 2009. A quarrel led to claims that Bibi had insulted the Prophet (PBUH), which she has always denied.
A spokesman for the Home Office said it could not comment on individual cases, but Whitehall sources added that: “We welcome the assurances the government of Pakistan has given on keeping her and her family safe. It is important that all countries seek to uphold the rule of law and afford security and protection for the rights of all citizens irrespective or faith or belief.”
