For liberal, enlightened people in Pakistan it should be the best news of the year: Asia Bibi is to be released. Three judges of the Supreme Court in the Pakistani capital Islamabad have acquitted them of all allegations. She was imprisoned for nine years, eight of them on death row. She, the Christian, had been sentenced to death for blasphemy in November 2010 for allegedly disparaging remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.

Allegedly, a few Muslim women with whom she had picked berries had refused to accept water from her because she was a Christian and therefore the water was "unclean". They would only drink it if they confessed to Islam. Asia Bibi is said to have answered, "Why should I, Jesus Christ died for the sins of people on the cross, what did Muhammad do for people?"

Asia Bibi claims she never said that. It is clear that a dispute broke out between the women, the women complained to the village preacher and in turn informed the police. Asia Bibi was arrested and sentenced under Paragraph 295-C of the Pakistan Criminal Code, which is mandatory under the Blasphemy Law, and which provides for the death penalty if the Prophet is insulted.

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Pakistan: protests after acquittal

The case caused a sensation worldwide. In Pakistan, however, the case was kept silent for fear of Islamic extremists. Two Pakistani politicians campaigning for Asia Bibi paid with their lives: Governor of Punjab province, Salman Taseer, who visited Asia Bibi in her cell and advocated abolishing the blasphemy law, was shot dead in 2011 by his own bodyguard. A few months later, a minister was also killed. He, too, had publicly sided with Asia Bibi and, if not the abolition, demanded a reform of the blasphemy law. He argued that it invited abuse and usually served only as a pretext for revenge in quarrels.

When Mumtaz Qadri, the killer of Taseer, was led before the judges, thousands lined his way, including lawyers, tossing him rose petals and cheering him - after all, he had also killed a "blasphemist" with Taseer. Qadri was sentenced to death and executed in 2016. There were violent protests all over Pakistan, hundreds of thousands took to the streets - not because they opposed the death penalty, but because they saw a hero in Qadri, an upright Muslim. The judges then had to live under police protection.

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Protests after acquittal for Asia Bibi

One of the three judges who have now acquitted Asia Bibi was among those who had condemned Qadri. He knew how delicate the acquittal would become. The lifting of the death sentence against Asia Bibi took place on 8 October - but only today, after the meeting of many security arrangements, it was announced.

Even Asia Bibi's lawyer Saif-ul-Malook was not informed in advance. Last week, he said to the SPIEGEL confidently: "The chances are good for Asia Bibi.The judges are smart, reasonable people." It was Asia Bibi's penultimate opportunity. If the judges had not waived their death sentence, only the President would have been able to pardon them.

Pakistan is far from abolishing the blasphemy law

So far, no one in Pakistan has ever been executed for blasphemy. But many who have been reproached have become victims of lynching, a mob that took the law into its own hands. Also Asia Bibi and her family will never be able to live as they did before the dispute in 2009. They will go abroad, get a new identity and start a new life. Religious fanatics have not only robbed her of nine years of her life, but will continue to do so in the future.

The acquittal is very brave, given the pressure religious extremists are inflicting on the state in Pakistan. Extremists had previously announced that they would throw the country into chaos should Asia Bibi be acquitted. In Islamabad, the highest level of security was declared before the verdict was announced. Hundreds of police and paramilitaries protected the government district and the Supreme Court building.

In several cities came on Wednesday after the announcement of the decision to protest. The country is far from reforming or abolishing the blasphemy law. Asia Bibi is free, but the spirit of the extremists is far from being defeated.