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Pakistani Lawyer to Return Home to Defend Christian Woman


FILE - Pakistani lawyer Saiful Malook who is defending a Christian woman facing the blasphemy charges, talks to the Associated Press in Lahore, Pakistan, Feb. 28, 2018.
FILE - Pakistani lawyer Saiful Malook who is defending a Christian woman facing the blasphemy charges, talks to the Associated Press in Lahore, Pakistan, Feb. 28, 2018.

A Pakistani lawyer who successfully fought a legal battle to acquit a Christian woman in a high-profile blasphemy case says he will return home to represent her whenever the country's Supreme Court takes up a review petition against her.

Saiful Malook, who fled to the Netherlands following threats to him from radical Islamists after the Oct. 21 acquittal of Asia Bibi, said Tuesday that no date has been set by the court to hear the petition.

The announcement by Malook came as the 54-year-old mother of five celebrated Christmas amid security despite being freed.

Bibi had been on death row since 2010 on charges of insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

The radical Tehreek-e-Labbaik political party held violent nationwide protests demanding her public execution after her release.

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