Christian Pakistani On Death Row Acquitted After 8 Years

It was a joyful moment for Asia Bibi as she was finally acquitted after 8 years in prison on death row. According to reports, she was convicted in 2010 and her death sentence was maintained by the Lahore High Court in 2014.

This came after she was arrested for blasphemy in 2009. The 47-year-old mother of four was convicted in 2010 and was accused of defaming the Prophet Mohammad during a row with Muslim women over drinking water as they picked berries in their village.

Despite Bibi maintaining her innocence, she has spent the better part of the last 8 years in confinement. With Pakistan being a place where the blasphemy laws are supported, her case is considered divisive.

Her case gained prominence and caused a bit of controversy when former governor of Pakistan's Punjab province, Salman Taseer was killed in 2011 for supporting her and criticizing the blasphemy laws.

The blasphemy laws which have been welcomed with huge support from a lot of people, were put into effect by former military dictator Ziaul Haq in 1980s. A person convicted under these laws is given death sentence.

After several unheard appeals and efforts to get her case reviewed, she once again appealed against the conviction to the Supreme Court, which for the first time heard the case in July 2015. The court led by chief justice Saqib Nisar, issued the verdict for her acquittal on Wednesday, October 31.

This came three weeks after they had already reached a decision. This delay is due to the threats by blasphemy campaigners to hold protests. According to reports, there was tight security amidst tension in the city's capital, Islamabad.

According to Economic Times, even though Bibi is being granted freedom, there are fears that she might be at risk of being attacked by militants who according to reports, have placed a 5,000 Euro bounty on her head.