Human rights activists, including Ansar Burney, have called for the release of 11-year-old Rimsha Masih who has been charged with burning a Noorani Qaida in Islamabad.
“This case is a glaring example of how the blasphemy laws are misused,” said Pakistan People’s Party Central Coordinator Dr Nafisa Shah. She said the administration should have first investigated the matter before detaining the girl, who is suffering from Down Syndrome. Shah said that all political parties and religious leaders must come together to find a solution to this issue which is creating insecurity among the minorities. “It is important to build consensus and recognize that there is a need to find ways to prevent such incidents where poor and disadvantaged communities are falsely charged,” she said.
The PPP Human Rights Cell proposed that in any such event, the law must allow leadership of religious communities and district administration to jointly inquire into the matter before registration of the complaint and arrest.
Separately, Ansar Burney, chairman of Ansar Burney Trust International, demanded Rimsha’s immediate release.
Burney said that scores of Pakistanis have been harassed and implicated in false cases instituted by misusing the country’s blasphemy laws. “Additionally, allegations of blasphemy have led to assassinations, extrajudicial killings and threats to life and property,” he added.
We are with you on this noble cause of raising your voice for the oppressed and suppressed people of Pakistan. God bless you.
I live in Australia, and have a Down Syndrome boy. This girl almost certainly has no idea what she was doing, and has no understanding that she may have offended others. This is not blasphemy, it is the ignorance of someone who needs help, not anger. Is this how you treat intellectual disability in Pakistan?
We are very very thankful to dawn news and the people who raising their voice about this injusted action against this little girl. Being a christian we are not against this law but we are against if someone is being charged wrongly as this little girl as she is only 11 years old. The government of Pakistan and the politician should sit together to find out the solution why blasphemy law is being used in a wrong way against the people of Pakistan and specially against the minorities in Pakistan.
ABC – Pakistan (A true Pakistani Christian)
Why such laws.How many countries have such laws.In these modern days of humane and liberal outlook you need laws which helps people.No terrorise them.
There is an urgent need to scrap blasphemy & other laws being misused by the public.
When will the Pakistan govt have the guts to lead & rule responsibly?
Zardari – scrap these laws without any fear.
I fully agree with Jason Davison, that the girl certainly has no idea what she was doing. Also her age should be kept in mind, she is too young to be kept in jail. I also support the comments of Dr. Nafisa Shah that the administration should have first investigated the matter before detaining the girl and all political parties and religious leaders must come together to find a solution to the issue where poor and disadvantaged communities are falsely charged. This is creating insecurity among the minorities.
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