Asia Bibi decision a victory for freedom & justice - MEP Karim
EU Trade Chief, Sajjad Karim MEP, celebrated today's decision by Pakistan's Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal against Asia Bibi’s blasphemy acquittal, declaring it a victory for freedom and justice.
Mr Karim - a long-standing campaigner for Ms. Bibi's case to be concluded - commended the verdict, which comes after her blasphemy conviction was overturned in October last year.
Ms. Bibi was accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad in 2010 after an argument with her co-workers when they refused to share a cup of water with her because she was a Christian. She was later arrested for blasphemy and sentenced to death.
After today's ruling, the Chief Justice Khosa of the Supreme Court said: “Based on merit, this review petition is dismissed. You could not point out [even] a single mistake in the Supreme Court's verdict.”
Speaking in Brussels, Mr Karim, who Chair’s the European Parliament’s South Asia Trade Monitoring Committee, said:-
"I am pleased to see that this case has now reached a conclusion after nearly nine years of court battles. It is now imperative that Asia Bibi is reunited with her family and are all placed in an environment where they are safe and securely protected forthwith.
"The verdict today is a victory for Asia Bibi and her family, but it is also a victory for justice and freedom. I hope now that she can live out her life in peace and free from persecution.”