The UK has the moral responsibility to offer asylum for Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi who recently acquitted of blasphemy, said British Conservative MP Rehman Chisti.
His statement came after former British foreign secretary Boris Johnson urged the UK government to support her as her life is in danger.
Bibi was released last week by the Pakistani government after eight years on death row. Her release has attracted violent protests organised by the hardline Islamists. Rehman Chisti, who has communicated with Bibi’s husband and daughter, said her life is in "grave danger".
Bibi is the first woman non-Muslim charged under Pakistan’s blasphemy law. The law includes a potential death sentence for any person who insults Islam. According to Bibi’s husband, Ashiq Masih, his family is in danger in Pakistan and requested asylum in the UK, US, or Canada.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has decided to try to stop her from moving out of the country.
Asia Bibi, also known as Asia Noreen, was convicted of insulting the Prophet Muhammad eight years ago during a quarrel with her neighbours. However, she rejected all blasphemy allegations and denied any wrongdoing.
The supreme court of Pakistan last month overturned her conviction on the grounds that there was not sufficient evidence to support the allegations made against her.
British MP Chisti told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that he had asked Bibi’s husband and daughter to give him a letter to handover the same to the British government to take necessary steps to give asylum.
“The UK has a "moral obligation to give sanctuary" to Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi, says MP @Rehman_Chishti. She's been acquitted of blasphemy after spending eight years on death row but now faces danger from radicals”, BBC Radio 4 Today tweeted.
Bibi, the 53-year-old Catholic remains in hiding under state protection as her release attracted angry protests from hardline religious groups who urge to hang her.
Michael Gove
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