230 parliamentarians from all over the world, including 89 MEPs from 21 Member States, called on Pakistan on 7 November to allow Asia Bibi to leave the country, facing death threats in her country after her acquittal.
Canada is reported to be in discussion with Pakistan to welcome the Christian woman, initially sentenced to death for blasphemy.
"Therefore, we urge in the strongest possible terms the Government of Pakistan to guarantee safe passage for Asia, her family, and any of those under threat due to their part in the decision to acquit her, to any country that accepts them", they said in a letter to Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, published by ADF International.
The parliamentarians stress that they would like to work ‘increasingly closely’ with the Pakistani government, hoping that Ms Bibi will be able to travel ‘in complete safety, in parallel with the deepening of relations’ between their states and Pakistan.
According to them, “what happens next in this sad story will show the world whether Pakistan is a nation that respects the rule of law, or whether political interests will prevail”.
The parliamentarians also warn Pakistan of the potential economic impact of the Bibi case. "The economic and social prosperity of a country is closely related to the integrity of the rule of law. Investors and businesses need confidence in justice for the sake of contracts, employees, and reputation”, they explain, adding that “other nations will be less likely to invest in Pakistan if the rule of law is undermined”.
In addition, the debate on ‘The case of Asia Bibi and the situation of religious minorities in Pakistan', scheduled for the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 14 November, was postponed to a later part-session. The purpose of the postponement will be to prevent the debate from having negative consequences on Asia Bibi and her family. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)