Asia Bibi will be received at the Élysée. Now living in Canada, the Pakistani Christian was sentenced to death for blasphemy in 2010 in her country and locked up for eight long years before her acquittal.

"As we have always said, France is ready to welcome Ms. Asia Bibi and her family to France if that is their wish," said the presidency on Monday February 24, announcing that the Pakistani woman would meet Emmanuel Macron on Friday at 'Elysium.

Currently in Paris to present his testimonial book "Finally free!" (éd. du Rocher), Asia Bibi said on RTL on Monday that living in France was her "desire".

"Obviously, I want the president to hear my request" for asylum, she added, hoping then to have the opportunity to meet Emmanuel Macron and his wife during his stay in Paris, which takes place under protection because of the threats that still loom over it.

"Since her conviction in 2010 for the offense of blasphemy, France has been mobilized alongside Asia Bibi," said the Élysée. "We argued for his acquittal and acted, with our European and Canadian partners, for his effective release."

"France is the country where I received a new life (...) Anne-Isabelle is for me like an angel", explained Asia Bibi, in reference to the French journalist Anne-Isabelle Tollet, with whom she writes his autobiographical book and hopes to continue working.

Released in January in French - it will be released in September in English -, the book gives few details on his new life in Canada, but returns at length to his imprisonment.

Asia Bibi should receive Tuesday afternoon from the hands of the socialist mayor of the capital Anne Hidalgo, the diploma of honor from the City of Paris which had been awarded to her in 2014. This should be her first public appearance. She is also scheduled to meet journalists over the weekend.

Deep gratitude to Canada

Asia Bibi, a farm worker and mother in her 50s, had been sentenced to death for "blasphemy" following an argument with Muslim villagers over a glass of water.

Blasphemy is an inflammatory subject in Pakistan, where simple accusations are sometimes enough to lead to murderous lynchings.

This was followed by a long judicial saga which had divided the country and moved the international community, attracting the attention of Popes Benedict XVI and Francis.

After spending more than eight years on death row in Pakistan, until her acquittal in October 2018, she has lived in Canada since May 2019.

"I have a deep gratitude to Canada for giving me a place to stay, I want to thank them," said Asia Bibi on Monday.

"The pope too, I would like to thank him, he too spoke on my behalf," she added.

With AFP

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