UK ‘is barring death-threat Christian over attack fears’
A PAKISTANI Christian who spent eight years on death row for blasphemy is not being offered asylum in the UK because it fears revenge attacks by extremists, campaigners have claimed.
Mother-of-five Asia Bibi, 53, is in hiding after Pakistan’s supreme court acquitted her nearly two weeks ago.
Hardline Muslims protested at her release, demanding she is hanged.
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.”
Mr Chowdhry said it was an “enduring shame” the British “haven’t been as generous as they have for many victims in the past”, adding: “It does seem to me Britain is now a country that is unsafe for those who may be tarred with an allegation of blasphemy.”
Former Cabinet Office minister Damian Green said: “It would be very disturbing if that was on ministers’ minds. It would clearly be unacceptable.”
Mrs Bibi was sentenced to die in 2010 after being accused of blaspheming Mohammed in a row with farm coworkers. After she was cleared, Pakistan tried to stem the protests by banning her from leaving the country until her case had been reviewed.
The Home Office said that it did not comment on individual cases but sources said: “We welcome the assurances the government of Pakistan has given on keeping her [Mrs Bibi] and her family safe.”