“[Mr Pervaiz] has been in prison for seven years and [his children] haven’t been able to spend time with him. His youngest twins were born when he was arrested and he hasn’t held them in his lap or his arms,” said Mr Christopher.

The Church in Chains group has organised the vigil to highlight the “dreadful injustice” to Asia Bibi who is “still effectively a prisoner”, and that her life and that of her family are “in grave danger”.

“Today too the Church, to bear witness to the light and the truth, is experiencing severe persecution in different places, up to the supreme test of martyrdom.”

It is “unbelievable that these persecuted Christians who come from the cradle of Christianity are being told there is no room at the inn, when the UK is offering a welcome to Islamists who persecute Christians.”

Online petition calls for the release of mother-of-five who was condemned to death in Pakistan in 2010 after she was convicted of blasphemy.