Aasia Bibi's lawyer flees to Netherlands amid death threats

Saiful Malook says his life is in danger in Pakistan


News Desk/reuters November 05, 2018
FILE PHOTO: Saiful Mulook (L) the lawyer of Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy against Islam, leaves after the Court overturned the conviction, in Islamabad, Pakistan October 31, 2018. REUTERS/FILE

AMSTERDAM: Aasia Bibi's lawyer, Saiful Malook, has fled to the Netherlands, a Dutch Christian rights group said on Monday.

Malook had left Pakistan on Saturday owing to his life being in danger.

Aasia, a Christian woman, accused of blasphemy in 2010 and sentenced to death by the Lahore High Court (LHC), however, on October 30, she was acquitted of the charges by the Supreme Court.

Aasia Bibi’s lawyer says he is leaving Pakistan

The 51-year-old woman had been on the death row since November 2010 after she was convicted of committing blasphemy during an argument with two Muslim women at a village in the Sheikhupura district of Punjab.



In the wake of the apex court's decision, religio-political parties began a campaign, which was spearheaded by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), to have the top court's decision overturned.

Nationwide protests took place for a three-day period, which saw mass rioting in which protesters caused damage to public and private property.



The TLP, led by Khadim Hussain Rizvi,  finally ended its protest sit-ins after coming to an agreement with the government, whereby they would take steps to place Aasia's name on the ECL list.

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