UK accused of fearing backlash

Britain has not offered asylum to the Pakistani Christian woman freed after eight years on death row for blasphemy because of fear it would prompt attacks and “unrest” here, her supporters claim. Asia Bibi and her family had appealed for sanctuary in Britain after her conviction was quashed by Pakistan’s supreme court.

The acquittal of the 53-year-old Catholic farmworker prompted days of demonstrations by hardline Muslim religious parties in Pakistan, who had campaigned for her to be hanged.

The mother-of-five remains hidden in Pakistan, after Imran Khan’s government agreed to allow a petition against the court decision.

A UK campaign group in touch with the family said the government was working to help Asia Bibi, but had stopped short of offering asylum. 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. The family will definitely not be coming to Britain.”

He said Britain was “being helpful”, but it was “an enduring shame that a country with such a lauded history of helping refugees and asylum seekers, that when the Asia Bibi case has come before them, they haven’t been as generous as they have for many victims in the past”. He added: “It does seem to me that Britain is now a country that is unsafe for those who may be tarred with an allegation of blasphemy.” He said a plan for her to leave Pakistan was being drawn up.