The outgoing Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland urged continued prayer for the safety of the Christian woman Asia Bibi, after the news came that she had finally been allowed to leave Pakistan.

On May 8 Asia Bibi was reported to be in Canada, where members of her family have already been granted asylum. She had been in a secret location for months after her blasphemy conviction was overturned in October, sparking violent protests. Prior to that she was on death row for several years after she was accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad during an argument with a neighbour.

The (now) Very Rev Susan Brown said on social media: “I am glad that Asia Bibi is finally on her way to Canada but I continue to pray for her safety. This young women has lost so many years of her life through malicious allegations simply because she is a Christian. Let’s hope that people of all faiths and none, in every part of the world, might learn to be more gracious towards each other.”

The Church of Scotland has repeatedly spoken out in support of Asia Bibi during her time in prison, and against Pakistan’s strict blasphemy laws. Among the projects it supports in Pakistan is CLAAS (Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement) which campaigns against the blasphemy law, off ers legal support to people accused under the law, and supports victims of religious discrimination.