Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian woman condemned to death for blasphemy and imprisoned since 2009, has been nominated for the European Parliament’s 2017 prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The prize is awarded to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the fight for human rights across the globe, drawing attention to human rights violations.
Peter Van Dalen, a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament, nominated Bibi for the prize, saying: “Asia Bibi’s case is of symbolic importance for others who have endured simply for expressing freedom of religion,” he said.
“In her we see the situation of the whole Christian community,” Kaleem Dean, a Pakistani analyst, told Fides news agency. “Her case is tragically indicative of the insecurity faced by all minorities when it comes to their fundamental human rights.”