ISLAMABAD: Amnesty International has urged Pakistan to reform its blasphemy laws and protect a young Christian girl arrested for allegedly burning pages inscribed with verses from the Holy Quran.
The Muslim-majority nation's strict anti-blasphemy laws make defaming Islam or desecrating the Holy Quran illegal and potentially punishable by death.
Rimsha, who is between 10 and 13 years old and is reported to have Down's Syndrome, was taken into custody in a low-income area of Islamabad on Thursday after furious Muslims demanded she be punished.
Polly Truscott, Amnesty International's South Asia director, said the case showed the "erosion of the rule of law" in Pakistan and the dangers faced by those accused of blasphemy.
"Amnesty International is extremely concerned for Rimsha's safety. In the recent past individuals accused of blasphemy have been killed by members of the public," Truscott said in a statement issued late Tuesday.
President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday ordered officials to explain the arrest, while Christians fled the neighbourhood of Mehrabad in fear at Muslim anger over the incident.
Truscott welcomed Zardari's response but warned it would count for little unless there were "greater efforts to reform the blasphemy laws to ensure they cannot be used maliciously to settle disputes or enable private citizens to take matters into their own hands."
There has been growing concern in the West over religious intolerance in Pakistan following the assassinations last year of a leading politician and a Christian cabinet minister who spoke out against the blasphemy law.
"The continued failure to reform these laws has effectively sent the message that anyone can commit outrageous abuses and attempt to excuse them as defence of religious sentiments," Truscott said.
Neighbours said Rimsha had burned papers collected from a garbage pile for cooking in her family home and someone alerted the local cleric after spotting the remains being thrown out as rubbish.
A Christian mother sentenced to death for blasphemy in late 2010 remains in prison, while last month, a mob snatched a mentally unstable man from a village police station and beat him to death in central Punjab province after he allegedly burned pages from a Quran.
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duh ! what a BIGGGGGGG Hippocratic organization Amnesty International is !
"Every one should respect it excluding those are mentally imbalanced brainless other like people." I tried to convince myself that was sarcastic satire. But its context says you're just mentally unstable.
@Pagall: They've whined about drones. Nice deflection. Though it probably didn't deflect in the direction you wanted and instead hit you and your convenient blindness.
It need no amendment. People from all walk of life must honor each other religion. Quran is a holy book,coming from the heaven by angel,it is highly respectable. Every one should respect it excluding those are mentally imbalanced brainless other like people.
It is our religious duty keep the holy book beyond their approach.
@naeem hussain: Where was Amnesty international when Dr Afia Siddiqi was rapped, tortured and shot in the abdomen by Americans for no reason.
No one raped her. Pakistani Police arrested her and handed her over to US government. Afia is a terrorist. It is only Pakistnis that rape Muslim women. Search youtube for "Pakistan and rape". Western countries only help Muslim women. Remember Mukhtar Mai who was gang raped by 4 pious Muslim men while she held Quran in her hand..
@Unwanted Wisdom: Definitely we will stop giving any wisdom to you the day you get enlightened and stop giving advice about conditions in Myanmar, Kashmir, France and each and every place on earth. If you continue with these kind of laws , i am afraid you will become more and more unwanted.
Why don't you go and read up properly on Afia Sidduqui properly from neutral sources before ranting on and on about her innocence.
Where was Amnesty international when Dr Afia Siddiqi was rapped, tortured and shot in the abdomen by Americans for no reason.
Not only Pakistan - but all Muslims should protect this Child from the fiendish Mullahs that are using Islam and our prophet as a tool of power and control.
This is a nation of lunatics and all of us need treatment.In a country where you have leaders like Zardari,Nawaz Sharif, Maulana Diesel ,Imran (confused),and the erratic J.I.leader you dont need enemies.These are those actors who have not achieved their present status because of their efforts but all of them inherited their wealth and notoriety from their masters or parents.
This hypocrisy is astounding.
A Hindu teenaged girl was kidnapped, raped, force converted and married off to a Muslim politician's son and Amnesty was quiet.
Is Amnesty a Xian organization or a human organization?
@Indian Wisdom: You really can't have a healthy debate on this issue because people opposing the law would have to argue knowing that their life is in danger. Is that really a conducive environment for a healthy debate? I'm beginning to give up on my country.
@Pagall: It is because USA has Pakistan's permission to conduct these attacks. Don't believe me? Why not ask COAS/executive of this country? Why is your suo moto sleeping? It is because Drone strikes are authorized by our Army and Govt. That's the reality sir.. know it and accept it..!!!
Ummmm....where's the CJP now? How about taking notice of this? Or do suo moto's just apply to situations where the government is involved or his own son implicated?
@Indian Wisdom: Can you please mind your own business and stop giving us your wisdom? Maybe you can give some wisdom at home? or do they not want to listen to you and that's why your too concerned about us?
Truscott welcomed Zardari’s response but warned it would count for little unless there were “greater efforts to reform the blasphemy laws to ensure they cannot be used maliciously to settle disputes or enable private citizens to take matters into their own hands.” There is urgent need for not just only reform in the blasphemy law rather for a healthy debate on if there is really any need of such a draconian law????
Amnesty should buzz off They can't see the Drone attacks?
"Amnesty International urges Pakistan to reform its blasphemy law" As a Pakistani, I demand this evil law be repealed..!! The law is used against non-muslims, it is used or soon going to be used by ignorant people to settle personal scores..!! The law is clearly a joke played in the name of religion.!!!!
Not the "erosion of the rule of law". But rather it is "upholding the rule of law". Let's not forget the blasphemy laws are laws.
@to dear pakistanis
Amnesty is the same org which issued messages on kashmir human rights violations and burma riots.