Theresa May rejected pleas to offer asylum to persecuted Christian mum Asia Bibi
Ms Bibi, 53, was acquitted of blasphemy in Pakistan last month, after eight years in solitary confinement
THERESA May rejected a plea by Cabinet ministers to offer asylum to persecuted Christian mum Asia Bibi, it emerged last night.
The PM shrugged off a bid by Home Secretary Sajid Javid to give her refuge in the United Kingdom - despite him arguing passionately for it.
Both Mr Javid and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt backed the bid - but Mrs May followed official advice which was that allowing her sanctuary in Britain would endanger British diplomats in Islamabad.
Ex Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has already spoken out in favour of Britain granting asylum saying ministers should not be put off by concerns it would lead to unrest or attacks on UK embassies.
Ms Bibi is a Roman Catholic from Punjab in Pakistan who was given a death sentence in 2010 after she was accusing of insulting the Prophet Mohammed - which she denies.
She was harvesting berries when she was accused of being unclean by her Muslim co-workers.
They alleged after an argument she had defiled the name of Mohammed.
On the day villagers seized her she was paraded with a leather noose round her neck, beaten with sticks and told her life would only be spared if she converted to Islam.
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But her 2010 conviction was quashed last month after a staggering eight years in solitary confinement because of “inconsistent” evidence.
The Foreign Office said a “number of countries” are currently in discussions to provide her with a “safe destination”.
It’s thought Australia has made an offer to the family.