Italian politicians on Tuesday hailed the acquittal on appeal of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman condemned to death for blasphemy in 2010 and released last October.
"A nightmare is over and she has the right to live safely," said Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia (FI) Vice President Antonio Tajani, the European parliament President.
Family Minister Lorenzo Fontana of the rightwing populist League party said he was "close to her and all persecuted Christians".
MEP Ignazio Correo of the League's government partner the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) said "the nightmare and the odyssey is over". Giorgia Meloni, leader of the rightist Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, said Italy should grant Bibi political asylum, saying "you can't abandon a woman persecuted and threatened for her faith".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
