After spending eight years on death row and finally being acquitted in a false blasphemy case, Asia Bibi, is a free woman who cannot live freely. The Pakistani woman now lives in Canada but yearns to come home.
The Christian woman was acquitted by the Supreme Court in a blasphemy case when the accusations against her were proved baseless over lack of evidence. Despite being declared not guilty, religious extremists staged protests against her acquittal, and even went on to lay siege to the twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Consequently, Asia Bibi was forced to flee the country. In an interview with The Guardian, the 48-year-old opened up about everything she misses about home.
“I miss my sisters, brother, father, and in-laws back home …but most of all having four [distinct] seasons, my culture and my food!”
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The mother of five hopes she can one day return with her husband and two daughters to the rest of her family.
“I really hope for it, just the way I kept hope when I was in jail that one day I was going to be free,”
She hopes for a world free of religious persecution.
“I feel that all of us, we should unite to help those people who are imprisoned under such blasphemy laws, not only in Pakistan but around the world.”
Asia Bibi’s Story
Asia had been accused of blasphemy back to 2009. It all started with a conflict over water with Muslim laborers working with her in the fields.
They had refused to share their water with her because she was Christian. Soon afterward a woman went on to level blasphemy accusations against her. A lower court convicted her as is the norm in the country.
“No way… I cannot even think of insulting any prophet. I didn’t say anything. It was all about a glass of water.”
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These cases are usually transferred to higher courts.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan acquitted Asia, citing the lack of evidence against her in 2018.
Free Woman Without a Home
Politico-religious group Tehreek-e-Labiak Pakistan (TLP) ignited violent protests demanded the decision be repealed. Asia had no choice but to flee the country.
Asia was granted a one year stay in Canada after she fled her native Pakistan.
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She was recently in France to promote her book Enfin Libre! co-written with the French journalist Anne-Isabelle Tollet. She might end up moving to France seeking asylum.
“I have not yet made up my mind, … I know the European Union is working very hard on my case and they are the ones who will decide where I am going to be living.”
