Asia Bibi...

In June 2009 Asia Bibi, a Roman Catholic from Lahore, Pakistan, was accused by her Muslim neighbours of insulting the prophet in a row over a cup of water. She was first dragged from her home and beaten by a mob, then arrested by police and charged with blasphemy. Having been sentenced to death, she subsequently spent eight years on death row.

When her case was re-examined, the court found she had no case to answer, though her release sparked off violent protests. For days Pakistan was brought to a virtual standstill, with protesters vowing to block the roads until Asia Bibi was hanged. Two of the politicians who had helped her were assassinated; her lawyer, and the three Supreme Court judges who quashed her sentence, received death threats. Bibi herself remained in custody, for her own protection, until yesterday, when she was flown to Canada to be reunited with her family. They will have new names and identities, and, hopefully, the opportunity to live in freedom. 

Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end there, because Islamic fundamentalists are threatening to hunt her down and kill her. In the current febrile atmosphere that is no empty threat, especially with a bounty on her head of 500,000 Pakistani rupees (about £3,000). One survey has reported that around ten million Pakistanis had said they would be willing to kill her out of either religious conviction or for the reward money.

Some of these fanatical fuckwits will no doubt be seeking a new life, perhaps in Britain, where, for dozens of reasons, their prospects will be brighter than in Pakistan. And, of course, they will demand that their religious beliefs must be “respected”.

Licensed today: market day in Ulverston...