Spanish government criticized for silence on Asia Bibi
Madrid, Spain, 10 August 2013: The Spanish civil liberties website MasLibres is criticizing
the Spanish government for failing to advocate on behalf of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani
Catholic sentenced to die under the country's blasphemy law.
During a visit
to Morocco in mid-July, King Juan Carlos of Spain is believed to have petitioned King
Mohammed VI for the pardon of four dozen Spanish prisoners, which was granted on July
30.
Among the prisoners was Daniel Galvan, who was sentenced in 2011 to 30
years for sexually abusing 11 children. After widespread protest, Galvan's pardon
was revoked and he was re-detained in the Spanish city of Murcia.
Galvan's
case contrasts sharply with that of Asia Bibi, the Catholic mother who gained worldwide
attention in 2010 when she was condemned to death for allegedly violating Pakistan’s
blasphemy laws.
Despite repeated requests from organizations such as MasLibres,
the Spanish government has yet to intercede on behalf of Bibi, who is awaiting a ruling
on the appeal of her death sentence.
The spokesman for MasLibres, Miguel Vidal,
said the organization has asked Spain's Foreign Affairs Minister, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo,
“to employ at the least the same effectiveness shown with the pedophile to save the
life of Asia Bibi.”
In his message, Vidal noted that “eight months ago, we
asked the government for help in liberating Asia Bibi and bringing her to Spain. We
have never received an answer.”
“Why has the Spanish government moved with
such effectiveness to liberate a Spanish pedophile imprisoned in Morocco and is silent
about Asia Bibi?” Vidal asked.
“On December 13, 2012, we went with the family
of Asia Bibi to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ask that they intercede in her
case and to begin the process for accepting her in Spain the moment she is released.”
“The
interview we had at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Bibi's husband and oldest
daughter was very positive: they explained to us the steps that needed to be taken
for the granting of asylum and they appeared favorable to taking some measures,” Vidal
said.
He acknowledged that it was made clear during the meeting that international
relations move at their own pace.
“However, eight months have passed and we
still have no news,” he said. Source: CNA