ISLAMABAD – Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian woman who spent years ondeath row after a 2010 conviction of blasphemy, said Monday that she wasseeking political asylum from the French government.
“My great desire is to live in France,” Bibi said in an interview with RTLradio, her first trip to France since fleeing with her family to Canada in2018.
Her visit comes a few weeks after the publication of her book “EnfinLibre!” (Finally Free) in French last month, with an English version due inSeptember.
“France is the country from where I received my new life… Anne-Isabelleis an angel for me,” she said, referring to the French journalistAnne-Isabelle Tollet, who waged a long campaign for her release and laterco-wrote Bibi’s book.
On Tuesday, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is to bestow an honorary citizenshipcertificate granted to Bibi by the city in 2014, when she was still behindbars.
She said she did not have any meeting scheduled with President EmmanuelMacron, but “obviously I would like the president to hear my request.”
In her book, Bibi recounts the nightmare conditions she was subjected to inprison until her release in 2018, amid an international outcry over hertreatment.
The acquittal sparked fierce rioting in Muslim-majority Pakistan, whereChristians are often the target of persecution.
She later fled with her family to Canada, where she has been living in anundisclosed location under police protection.
“Obviously I am enormously grateful to Canada,” Bibi said, adding that shenow wanted to work “hand in hand” with Tollet to urge Pakistan authoritiesto free others imprisoned over the country’s anti-blasphemy laws.
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– ‘Exile forever’ –
The allegations against Bibi date back to 2009, when Muslim field labourerswho were working alongside her refused to share water because she wasChristian.
An argument broke out and a Muslim woman later went to a local cleric andaccused Bibi of committing blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed.
But despite her dramatic acquittal by Pakistan’s chief justice, activistswarned that freedom for Bibi would likely mean a life under threat byhardliners who have long called for her death.
Last May, she was spirited away to Canada, where Tollet was the onlyreporter to have met with Bibi since her arrival.
In her book, Bibi tells of the humiliating and horrendous conditions inprison, and the daily torments suffered by the country’s Christian minority.
She also recounts the difficulty of adjusting to her new life, and the painof having to leave without seeing her father or other members of her family.
“Pakistan is my country. I love my country but I am in exile forever,” shewrote. – AFP
