Ministers ‘giving in to mob’ after refusal to offer Asia Bibi asylum
ASIA BIBI, the Pakistani Christian facing death threats after her blasphemy charges were quashed, will not be offered asylum in Britain amid fears of violent reprisals on embassies in Pakistan, the Foreign Office has indicated as MPS accused the Government of “giving in to the mob”.
Sir Simon Mcdonald, the department’s permanent secretary, said last night that the threat to staff working in the country had to be balanced with the Government’s desire to shelter those fleeing persecution.
After reports that Justin Trudeau is close to securing an agreement with Islamabad for Mrs Bibi’s safe passage to Canada, Sir Simon added that the UK was prepared to work with allies to ensure she reached a “safe harbour”.
It comes amid mounting concern that Mrs Bibi risks being killed by extremists after her release. The mother of five, who was charged with blasphemy nine years ago after allegedly insulting the Prophet Mohammed, recently had her conviction quashed by Pakistan’s supreme court.
However, she had been blocked from leaving the country amid widespread unrest from protesters, who have called for her to be hanged.
Dozens of MPS, including Boris Johnson, have demanded that she be granted asylum, but the Government has so far refrained from commenting amid reports that doing so could trigger reprise attacks.
In a letter to Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, Mr Johnson expressed his disbelief that Britain could allow the fear of violence “to prevail” over Mrs Bibi’s “overwhelming claim for compassion from the British Government”.
“I am well aware, as a former foreign secretary, of the constant threat to our overseas missions, but we cannot allow the threat of violence to deter us from doing the right thing,” he added.
Last night Sir Simon appeared to confirm reports that British overseas personnel could be at risk, telling the Commons foreign affairs committee: “I am advising that we can be consistent with our fundamental policy aims, whilst at the same time protecting the security of our staff.”
He added that Thomas Drew, the UK’S High Commissioner to Pakistan,
‘Simon Mcdonald and the FCO are showing a lack of backbone and a rejection of British values’
was “very aware” of the potential implications for staff working in British embassies and was “feeding” into the Government’s decision on the issue. However, his response drew criticism from Tom Tugendhat, the committee’s chairman, who warned that a failure to offer Mrs Bibi asylum risked foreign policy being “dictated by the mob”.
Meanwhile, a Whitehall source told The Daily Telegraph: “Simon Mcdonald and the FCO are showing a disgraceful lack of backbone and a rejection of British values.” Mrs Bibi is currently hiding in an undisclosed “safe place”, while talks between Pakistan and Western countries remain ongoing.