A Pakistani Christian woman acquitted of blasphemy after spending eight years on death row has been freed from prison. Who was convicted of blasphemy by a Pakistani court and was sentenced to death by hanging in 2010?

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Asia Bibi blasphemy case Study
from Jail 2009 to Freed 2018

2. Asia Bibi
blasphemy
caseAsia Bibi, a Christian mother of five,
was on death row since 2010.
The Asia Bibi blasphemy case
involves Pakistani Christian woman
(Asiya Noreen)
commonly known as Asia Bibi
.

3. Lahore
High Court
(LHC)
Upheld her conviction and
confirmed her death sentence in
October 2014.
3
Asia Bibi was convicted for blasphemy under section 295-C of the
Pakistan Penal Code for allegedly defaming Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH).The offence carries mandatory death penalty under
Pakistani law.
The allegations against Asia Bibi are that she made three
“defamatory and sarcastic” statements about the Prophet (PBUH)
on June 14, 2009, during an argument with three Muslim women
while the four of them were picking fruit in a field.
The prosecution also claimed that Asia Bibi “admitted” making
these statements at a “public gathering” on June 19, 2009 and
asked for forgiveness.

4. Evidence in
support of
Asia Bibi
Seven witnesses to support the
allegations of blasphemy against
Asia Bibi..
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Two eyewitnesses, Mafia Bibi and Asma Bibi, claimed they heard Asia
Bibi make the allegedly blasphemous remarks, and later “admit” to
making the statements during a “public gathering” a few days later.
Other witnesses included the complainant Qari Muhammad Salaam,
a local cleric, who claimed he heard about the alleged blasphemous
statements from Mafia and Asma and got a criminal complaint for
blasphemy registered with the police; three police officers who
registered and investigated the case; and a local resident,
Muhammad Afzal, who alleged he heard Asia Bibi admit to making
“blasphemous remarks” and seek pardon at the “public gathering”.

5. Asia Bibi’s
defense
Asia Bibi stated she had a
“quarrel”.
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She claimed “some hot words were exchanged” during the argument,
after which Mafia and Asma, alongside Qari Muhammad Salaam and
his wife (who taught Asma and Mafia the Quran), fabricated the
blasphemy case against her.
Asia Bibi also stated that she had “great respect and honor for the
Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the Holy Quran” and never made the
alleged blasphemous remarks.
Problems with Asia Bibi’s conviction
LHC conceded “the defense has not defended its case with the
required seriousness…”
The court went on to uphold Asia Bibi’s conviction and death
sentence.
The trial court used Asia Bibi’s statement as an admission of
guilt, finding that the “hot words” exchanged between her and
“the Muslim ladies” were “switched into a religious matter”, and
concluding that the “hot words” must have been “nothing other
than the blasphemy”.

6. Supreme
Court Acquits
Asia Bibi
Supreme Court acquits Asia Bibi in Blasphemy Case, She was
convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to death in 2010.
A three-judge special bench headed by Chief Justice of
Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard Bibi’s 2014 appeal
against her conviction and death sentence under section
295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
The three-judge special bench ruled that Asia Bibi is released
if she is not facing any more charges.
Asia Bibi was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to
death in 2010, despite her advocates maintaining her
innocence and insisting the accusers held hate against her.
The case was filed against Asia Bibi by an Imam (prayer
leader) in Katanwala village who alleged that Bibi had
confessed to committing blasphemy.
Source
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Foreign Office
Denied Asia
Bibi's Leaving
Pakistan
Foreign office spokesperson Dr. Mohammad Faisal denied the
reports that Aasia Bibi had left Pakistan, Aasia Bibi is still in the
country.
He said that there is no truth in the news about Aasia Bibi leaving
the country, it is fake news. She was released from Multan jail last
night, confirmed by its lawyer Saiful Malook advocate.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry
said onTwitter that “It has become a norm to publish fake news for
sake of headlines”#AsiaBibi case is a sensitive issue; it was
extremely irresponsible to publish news of her leaving the country
without confirmation. I strongly urge section of media to act
responsibly.”
Source

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