The Pakistani Christian lady Asia Bibi was convicted in 2010 after being accused by Muslim villagers of blasphemy. Gratefully, the Supreme Court eventually did not bow to the enormous ideological campaign of the fundamentalists, revoking Asia’s death sentence.   

Fighting injustice is at the very heart of Christian politics. For the ECPM, persecution of Christians is inseparably a part of where we stand for as an outspoken Christian party. ECPM MEPs Van Dalen, Gericke, Jurek and Škripek have visited Pakistan several times, advocating Asia Bibi’s acquittal.

Mr. Van Dalen was quoted today, saying: "The Supreme Court has accepted the acquittal appeal, which means that the death sentence is being revoked. There is so much reason for being grateful. After a nightmare of nine years in death row, Asia got her freedom back. At the same, new concerns are raising: what will be the reaction of the extremists?’

As we speak, there are already tremendous protests in the streets against the decision of the Pakistani Supreme Court. The situation of Christian minorities remains worrying in Pakistan and other countries in the region. The ECPM will always promote freedom of religion in Europe and beyond, with the modest means we have as an organisation.