Asia Bibi seeks asylum in France; dreams of returning to Pakistan one day

• Asia Bibi spent eight years on death row after being falsely accused of Blasphemy charges in 2009
• Bibi currently resides in Canada where she was granted a one-year stay after she was freed from jail in 2018
• Bibi's book, "Enfin Libre!" (Finally free) was released earlier this year in which she recounts her time in prison
• She was awarded the honorary citizenship of Paris from Mayor Anne Hidalgo last week and is set to meet President Macron on Friday

Asia Bibi, the 48 year old Pakistani Christian, who spent eight years on death row after being falsely accused in 2009 spoke on Tuesday about her new life in unfamiliar surroundings and her dream of being able to return to Pakistan one day.

Asia left the country for Canada, where she was granted a one-year stay after she was dramatically acquitted in 2018 by the Supreme Court.

She mentioned that while she is grateful to the Canadian government for granting her the stay, she does not know where her future lies once her one year stay is over. She later went on to suggest France as an ideal choice for her due to her close relationship with French journalist Anne-Isabelle Tollet, who also co-wrote her book, “Enfin Libre!” (Finally free).

Additionally, Asia stated that while she dearly missed her sisters, brother, father, in-laws, she missed the four distinct seasons and the food back home the most! Bibi hoped that she could meet the rest of her family one day.

"I really hope for it, just the way I kept hope when I was in jail that one day I was going to be free," said Bibi.

Bibi sheds light on her time and treatment in prison in her book (Enfin Libre!) and the horrors she faced at the hands of other detainees.

Bibi currently resides in Canada with her family and spoke via translator in France whilst promoting her book. She stated that she is “very likely” to discuss a possible French asylum when she meets President Emmanuel Macron this Friday.

Recently, she also received the honorary citizenship of Paris by Mayor Anne Hidalgo, which she was awarded in 2014 while still in prison.

Bibi concluded with a message of hope.

"I feel that all of us, we should unite to help those people who are imprisoned under such blasphemy laws, not only in Pakistan but around the world.”