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World News

Peers put pressure on ministers over Asia Bibi

by Press Association

Tory former minister Baroness Warsi assured ministers that the British Muslim community was "fully supportive" of any claim Ms Bibi might have.

But at question time Home Office minister Baroness Williams of Trafford repeatedly refused to comment on the case.

Lady Williams warned that departing from this policy of not commenting on individual cases due to a "duty of confidentiality" may put individuals and their family members "in danger".

Lord Alton of Liverpool said it was "passing strange" that while other governments, parliamentarians and newspaper leader writers had spoken powerfully for asylum to be granted "we should take Trappist vows of silence".

Lord Alton, an independent crossbench peer, praised those behind the acquittal of Ms Bibi and their "refusal to be dictated to by lynch mobs".

He said the UK's failure to offer asylum due to what some said was a fear of reprisals, undermined "our belief in justice, human rights, the rule of law and religious freedom" while also endangering "us of falling foul, succumbing to blackmail".

Lady Williams said she could not comment on most of the points he had made, adding: "Our primary concern is for the safety and security of Asia Bibi and we want to see a swift resolution of the situation.

"A number of countries are in discussion about providing a safe destination once the legal process is complete and therefore it wouldn't be right to comment further at this stage."

Ms Bibi was held for eight years under a death sentence for supposed blasphemy after she drank from the same well as Muslim co-workers, before her conviction was reversed by the Pakistan Supreme Court.

Large crowds have taken to the streets in Pakistan to protest against the court's decision.

In the Lords, Labour's Lord Anderson of Swansea said the Government's "hesitation", either due to fear of community backlash or perceived dangers to High Commission staff, spoke volumes about its commitment to human rights

Liberal Democrat Lord Beith said that while there may be things the Government could do behind the scenes, if someone arrived from Pakistan with Ms Bibi's experiences they would have an "irrefutable claim for asylum under international law".

Lady Williams said anyone seeking asylum was dealt with on a case-by-case basis and the UK had always been generous in the past to asylum seekers.

Lady Warsi said there had been press reports that Ms Bibi, if granted UK asylum, would "potentially not be safe from some communities", but offered assurance that "Muslim communities in this country are fully supportive of any asylum claim Asia Bibi may have".

Lady Williams told her that every asylum claim was treated on its own merits.

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