DOSSIER – In this archival photo of December 25, 2016, a Pakistani Christian crosses a bridge in a poor Christian neighborhood of Islamabad, Pakistan. The uproar surrounding Aasia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian who was acquitted of blasphemy charges and was released from death row but remains isolated for her protection, drew attention to the fate of Christians The poorest minority in Pakistan has been confronted with an increasingly intolerant atmosphere within this predominantly Muslim nation, where radical religious and sectarian groups have gained prominence in recent years. last years. years. less
REPORT – In this archival photo of December 25, 2016, a Pakistani Christian crosses a bridge in a poor Christian district of Islamabad, Pakistan. The tumult surrounding Aasia Bibi – a Pakistani Christian who … more
Photo: B.K. Bangash, AP
DOSSIER – In this archival photo of December 25, 2016, a Pakistani Christian crosses a bridge in a poor Christian neighborhood of Islamabad, Pakistan. The uproar surrounding Aasia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian who was acquitted of blasphemy charges and was released from death row but remains isolated for her protection, drew attention to the fate of Christians The poorest minority in Pakistan has been confronted with an increasingly intolerant atmosphere within this predominantly Muslim nation, where radical religious and sectarian groups have gained prominence in recent years. last years. years. less
REPORT – In this archival photo of December 25, 2016, a Pakistani Christian crosses a bridge in a poor Christian district of Islamabad, Pakistan. The tumult surrounding Aasia Bibi – a Pakistani Christian who … more
Photo: B.K. Bangash, AP
False images show an acquitted Christian woman leaving Pakistan
ISLAMABAD (AP) – The Pakistani government grappling with a crisis surrounding Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman acquitted of the charge of blasphemy after eight years on death row, must now deal with "false" images broadcast on social media, supposed to show it leaving the country.
Minister of Information, Fawad Chaudhry, Monday criticized the messages, one of which claims to show that Bibi was meeting Pope Francis. The photo is actually of Bibi's daughter from two years ago.
Chaudhry explained that the images, which badly identified Bibi, had resulted in death threats against a legislator.
Radical Islamists blocked Bibi's freedom and demanded that it be publicly executed. They also filed a motion to quash the acquittal of the Supreme Court.
The government claims that Bibi remains in Pakistan, in a secret location for his own protection, until the end of the revision process.