VATICAN CITY: French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran on Saturday went to the defence of the young Pakistani girl accused of blasphemy, stressing that she "cannot read or write."
Interviewed on Radio Vatican, Tauran, who is in charge of interfaith dialogue in the Vatican, said "that before asserting a sacred text has been the object of scorn, it is worth checking the facts."
Rimsha, aged 11 to 16 according to different reports, is accused of burning pages from a children's religious instruction book inscribed with verses from the Holy Quran. She was arrested and remanded in custody last Thursday.
But Tauran said that Rimsha "is a girl who cannot read or write and collects garbage to live on and picked up the fragments of the book which was in the middle of the rubbish."
"The more serious and tense the situation, the more necessary it is to have dialogue," added the cardinal, who was the late pope John Paul II's foreign minister.
He also told the daily Il Sussidiario, that he believed it "impossible in the light of the facts that the girl had tried to express her scorn for the sacred book of Islam."
The youngster reportedly has Down's Syndrome and her arrest has prompted outrage from rights groups and concern from Western governments.
Rishma had been due to appear in court on Saturday but police and her lawyer said Friday that the hearing had been put back to August 31.
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USA is already punishing Pakistan@elcay:
[The #Minorities in #Pakistan] Islam is a complete code of life, the Islamic system guarantees and pleads justice for the humanity, the life property ownership and religion of Non-Muslims are given full protection under Islamic statehood, those people who cause any type of torture to the Non-Muslims in a place where Muslims are in majority are totally ignorant of the Islamic teachings. #Islam teaches that all the prophets of Allah and all the religious icons of all the religions must be revered. #Blasphemy law is promulgated for the protection of innocent people who are unjustly accused of blasphemy.
Why is the vatican concerned? Just because she's a christian girl! What about the massive murder of people in Burma? Vatican must have enjoyed that
@Khan: When will you revert to original concept of Universal Muslim brotherhood & get out of the clutches of countries/nations implanted by West just a hundred years ago.
@Anna Agreed with you, would like to see Pervez Musharaff again, i think he had better ideas to fix these fanatic mullahs, haaah!!!!! may be one day.
On an Islamic country would they be threatened by a 11 year old girl - and they wonder why the rest of the world holds them at a distance.
I am sorry my Christian brothers and sisters, we Muslims have nothing to do with such blasphemy acts. We are a coward majority who can not stand up for our rights and true religion of Islam in front of extremists who are abusing our peaceful religion of Islam. If you were like them you will treat all Muslims in your majority countries in the same manner as we treat you in Pakistan due to our majority. But you are not like us you are far better. You give us all the rights and religious freedom in your countries. We are the weakest and ungrateful nation. If blasphemy carries death punishment then why Allah has said only Shirk can not be forgiven and every other sin can be forgiven by Allah? Why Quran is silent about blasphemy? why there is no historical blasphemy case in our loving prophet Muhammad pbuh life? please stop this bloodshed in the name of Islam. There are so many other ways for you to quench your thirst. Why Islam? a beautiful and peaceful religion of moderate human beings which is full of kindness and love. Please stop this non sense it is too much. Allah is watching you for this barbaric and inhuman treatment against His creature.
Attackers in Libya have bulldozed a mosque containing Sufi Muslim graves in the centre of Tripoli, a day after Sufi shrines in the city of Zlitan were wrecked and a mosque library was burned. News: 26th August, 2012
Go to below link read the detailed news, watch videos and see pictures.
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/africa/2012/08/201282665348545366.html
I have two questions for readers to ask:
Is this not blasphemy?? Where these fanatic and extremist mullahs have brunt a library into ashes which was attached to the Mosque, I am sure there would be scripts containing holy narrations as well in that library. Why these mullahs are not calling it blasphemy and demanding for punishment of blasphemy as of Pakistan if all Muslims are one nation.
Secondly, assume this have had happened in a non-Muslim country by non-Muslims what would have been a reaction of these fanatic mullahs and entire so-called Muslim nation. i remember, Babri mosque incident in India and reaction of Muslim over it. Why this one Muslim nation is silent now over bulldozing a mosque, library and a sufi shrine by fanatic Muslims?
@Yusuf Al-Kafir: click link below to see Most of Muslim countries have rectified "Universal Human Rights Declaration" excpet Saudi Arabia; well pakisatn critcized Saudi Arabia for its stance of UHRD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UniversalDeclarationofHumanRights#Muslim_countries
@Yusuf Al-Kafir
another example of what you mentioned Cairo Declaration of Human Rights Under Islam.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/rollingnews/2012/08/120825rollingnews_1.shtml
’مصری خاتون کو کوڑوں کی سزا رکوائی جائے‘
’مصری خاتون کو کوڑوں کی سزا رکوائی جائے‘ .مصر کی وزارت خارجہ سے کہا گیا ہے کہ وہ سعودی عرب سے مصری خاتون کو پانچ سو کوڑے مارنے کی سزا پر عملدرآمد روکنے کا کہے۔
مصر کی ریاستی تنظیم نیشنل کونسل آف ویمن نے مصری وزیر خارجہ سے استدعا کی ہے کہ وہ سعودی عرب پر زور دیں کہ وہ ایک مصری خاتون کو دی گئی سزا پر عملدرآمد نہ کرے۔
انسانی حقوق کے اداروں کے مطابق نجلہ یحیٰ وفا کو دو ہزار نو میں اس وقت گرفتار کیا گیا تھا جب ان کے ایک سعودی شہزادی سے تجارتی اختلافات ہوئے۔
انہیں پانچ سال قید اور پانچ سو کوڑوں کی سزا دی گئی تھی۔ انسانی حقوق کے اداروں کے مطابق انہیں اب تک تین سو کوڑے مارے جا چکے ہیں۔
مصری تنظیم نے حکومت پر زور دیا ہے کہ مصری عوام کی ملک کے اندر اور باہر حفاظت کرنا حکومت کی ذمہ داری ہے۔
@Yusuf Al-Kafir: Dear Yusuf, to deny that Pakistan is not signatory of United Nation's Human right declaration would be, perhaps, living in ignorance and being naïve. Pakistan has rectified all Human Rights Chartres, including Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of UN, and Pakistan is abided to implement these Human Rights Charters in letter and spirit for having rectifying these and being Member State of UN. Please go UN website and see which countries have rectified these human rights charted globally. By the way, if you think all Muslim people and countries fall in ‘one nation’ and follow a separate and unique human rights setup, then I would be surprised for one, who is Muslim and Pakistani and still Saudi Arab deny basic rights to him/her including getting of citizenship. Being a Pakistani Muslim you can’t marry a Saudi lady (Arab) by law in the Saudi Arab as well as in other neighboring countries. Is that all Muslims have different human rights , and are separate nation across world?
Pathetic and apparent muslims, pakistanis that carry such orthodox and non islamic mentality should be banished from using the name 'muslim'. These guys are the dirt that spreads over our religion. She is a christian and a fellow sister in humanity. She is also from the people of the book. A christian is closest to a muslim as described in islam. Where do these guys harbor such ignorance and generate no tolerance.... God bless us all.
To all those who say "mind your own business. Pakistan will take care of its own", I have just one question.
How? Aasia Bibi is still in jail. Despite constant misuse nothing has been done about the blasphemy law.my law.
Why should anyone have any confidence that Pakistan will solve this problem on its own?
Dear frds, I just want to kw that if Quran is the word of GOD than why don't u leave it with GOD, let GOD deal with it. kill someone who said anything about it? if u are doing it, is that means Quran gives you permission to do so???????????????????.
@Anna: Whole Pakistani nation is confused, chaotic and under punishment from Allah ,no one is able to think straight.The great religion of profit Mohammad (saw) has been turned upside down on its head. Disastrous situation prevails at present.
Our President and Prime Minister have devised a strategy to deal with cases like this and the strategy is to make a statement and then do nothing..........and it seems to work.....at least for them.........for now.
Humans whose thinking, words and actions are not motivated with compassion, love and forgiveness are indeed ignorant and retarded people........and their societies a reflection of their collective conscious.
Instead of struggling to change this rule, Vatican needs introduce different immigration policies for 2nd class citizens amongst other countries. Yes, we are 2nd class citizens and we don't want any fight for our rights. We are peaceful people and don't want to live here anymore.
Stop spreading lies about this issue. The girl is taken into custody to secure her from our illiterate mob (yeah - sorta like the crowd that comes here on ET and comment without any research). If she hadn't taken into custody, she wouldn't have been breathing by now.
This is totally bias reporting by saying "11 year old girl "arrested" for blasphemy". Educate this illiterate mob (both educated and un-educated) who lack the ability to reason before jumping to bad mouth everything. We are those people who didnt wait a second to kill two innocent boys in Sialkot just because we "heard" that they were robbers. This is hight of "Jahalat".
As for Islam - She is innocent per my limited study of the religion!
@aftab
Pakistan, or any other Muslim country for that matter, did not sign the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Muslim countries have their own: it's called the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights Under Islam.
These two declarations have very little in common.
@R Jaffar-ur-Rehman: @Wajib: by the way, Rimsha is a non-Muslim in a so-called Islamic nation. my dear, there is no concept of Islamic or muslim nation practically. Remember that. Being a non-Muslim in a so called Islamic nation is not a internal matter of Pakistan, it is matter of human rights violation against universal human rights declaration of United Nations (UN).
My head hurts when I imagine an 11 year old girl in PAKISTANI jail accused of BLASPHEMEY. Can't imagine what must be happening to her even while in lock up.
@adnan: "All those who disgraded Holy Quran should be given an exemplrey punishment ................" Firstly, it was not Koran but some other religious instruction book for children. The report says that the girl picked up fragments of the book from trash. How did the book end up as fragments and in the trash? Someone tore the book and threw it in trash and everyone knows and agrees that it was not this girl who did it. She just picked up from the trash. The persons who disrespected the book and committed blasphemy are the muslims who tore the book and threw it in trash as this book on religious instructions was for the muslims and also used only by the muslims.
Many are saying that the Pakistan's laws should be amended. What good would it do? Does the currently prevailing laws allow rape of 12 year old girls or forced conversion? The judiciary and CJ not only allow it but also protect and cover it. No one speaks against it. In fact everyone in Pakistan support and promote such acts. Pakistan is an extreme society that preaches and practices barbaric practices. Take any poll on extremism. Over 50% say Shias are not Muslims. Over 99% would say Ahmedis are not muslims and should not have their mosques or read Koran or use Koranic verses. 100% would say that Hindus and Christians are to be treated like animals and that their young girls can be raped at will. All homes in Pakistan have separate plates and glass for serving food and water to non-muslims and non-muslims are not allowed to eat with muslims even in restaurants. Yet they want Hindus, Ahmedis, Shias and Christians to consider themselves as Pakistanis. What would Pakistanis say if in UK, Germany, France or USA these muslims from Pakistan are served in separate plates and in separate areas of a public restaurant. It may very well come in the future. I am singling out muslims of Pakistan and not other muslims. In fact muslims of other countries have started to disassociate themselves from muslims of Pakistan. All these evil practices have been taught systematically right at homes and schools for many decades. Outside world did not know about it so much for many years. With the modern media and papers like ET, these are exposed regularly and world has become aware of what Muslims in Pakistan really are. No law can bring a change, especially when these teachings are done in homes.
Sue Vatican...this is clearly a conspiracy... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
How about the mistreatment of quranic verses that are published on front pages of every major Urdu newspaper? Anyone can find these papers in garbage in Pakistani cities too.
Also, every time with a suicide bombing in a mosque or shrine, Quran gets burned there too besides the precious human lives and Pakistani values. This is no mistreatment of Quran in Pakistani ???
Only of its a Christian gets accused the whole lot of ghairat brigade wakes up and demand lynching.
Lol. People are hilarious. They want Vatican to mind their own business as it is an internal matter of Pakistan, yet want Pakistan and the international community to interfere in Burma, Kashmir, etc.
Hypocrites.
@R Jaffar-ur-Rehman: 'Vatican should stop interfering in the internal affairs of Pakistan. It is catholic christian that is spreading its religion throughout the Muslim world." In Pakistan we do the same Pakistani way by kidnapping girls of Hindu community and forcefully convert them or force there family to move to India. We kill our Shia brothers and deny rights to Ahmadi, force Christian to move, we kill our Governor of Punjab for supporting minority, kidnap his son in ransom, we shower rose petal on Qadri a killer of this governor, we kill our Christian Minister Bhatti,. These are all internal matters of Pakistan other everything in Pakistan is A OK. How dare Vatican raise an issue on this matter? Do you get the message or should I continue with my list.
what a shame? a minor has been accused of blasphemy and people who call themselves Muslims are adamant to punish her even execute her.....and by the way this is happening in Punjab where "Shers of lahore are ruling and rivers of milk are flowing and city is rebuilding on Paris style" ...everything is like a fairy tale in Punjab and but people have no guts to talk about this incident which is a blot on society..though i support blasphemy law...but this is certainly not the parameter of blasphemy...blasphemy applies on supporters of Salman rushdie, Tasleema Nasreen and jhangvi of LEJ. Just to remind the readers that people involved in Kamra air base attack have been confirmed that they were from Punjab and the people who murdered innocent hazaras were also from Punjab mainly belonging and following the banned terrorist ideology of Jhangvi. But i bet pak government will not have the guts to accept this.
@Nasir Ali: Assuming you're Pakistani .. I would ask you a question .. If you're own brother or daughter is starving and you are able to get enough food to feed one person .. Would you feed them or will go to another city to feed some one else? If you're so concerned about Burma why not pack up and move over there and never come back to my country since you don't care for it.
@Dr.A.K.Tewari: Absolutely,Repeal the law of blasphemy without delay.
@Dr.A.K.Tewari: The Suppressors of minorities are well protected by the LAW of this LAND OF PURE(?) and are treated like Protectors of official Faith.. One can't expect much from the STATE.
Let's get this Down's business outta the way. If she has Down's Syndrome, she would have very characteristic face and other externally observable features which should resolve the matter. Secondly, in every humane society, interested in the benefit of it's people, there should be forensic psychiatry services which should help clarify the matter. Even in the absence of such services, a psychiatrist (properly trained) should be commissioned to see whether the girl is fit for interview and then should be produced before magistrate/court immediately. She should not be held without charge on remand, even in a juvenile prison. Her security within prison should also be given due importance as she can be at a risk from other prisoners or for that matter fanatic policemen as well. D.O.I. I am a psychiatrist working in the U.K.
I am sure the little girl did this inadvertently.President should take the bold and right step,use his powers available to him under the constitution to order immediate release and provide security for her and her family. This is not the Islam of profit Mohammad (saw). Islam is kind,considerate,full of love, vigorously against cruelty to children,fairness for all, forgiving and totally against extremism. If this would have happen on profit Mohammad (saw) watch, he would have forgiven the child.Allah has locked our brains in Pakistan in anger because of inter-faith killings, intolerance towards minorities,robberies,fraud,bribery,corruption,ethnic hate,disrespect for others,murders and no respect for the rule of law of the land.In fact the culture in Pakistan is totally unislamic.Hope Allah forgive us Pakistanis and unlock our brains so that we can think straight and right and mend our ways.
@beig,
but are eager to enjoy all the advantages of modern world .
Now no more duelity is acceptable .
@beig, well said , i would like to add....... But are very eager to enjoy all the advantages of modern world ......
@ holy seat at vetican , Even majority of muslims can't read quaran what to say about a christian girl with low IQ . I can bet you , if possible ...
Carrot and stick policy has to be made only stick policy to repeal the black law of blasphemy .
We still live in stone age.
A christian girl was caught in Pakistan and and all the world woke up. Where were these so called liberals when Muslims were brutally killed in Burma.
@Arif: So do you think that Majority in Pakistan are being given their full rights....
All those who disgraded Holy Quran should be given an exemplrey punishment while justice must also be done keeping in mind the transparent investigation measuring all aspects.
People who express scorn and hatred for Quran -e- Pak are precisely the people who have not read the book. So the Cardinal needs to mind his own business and not interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign Islamic nation.
Vatican! Wow! When did Makkah issued any statement against Quran burning, torching of mosques in the US? Let it be dealt according to the law of country.No Vatican please!
Pakistan - a country where innocents are proved guilty.
Vatican should stop interfering in the internal affairs of Pakistan. It is catholic christian that is spreading its religion throughout the Muslim world.
No one should dare to touch this girl now in Pakistan .
All those will be involved in this case to punish her will be awarded with capital punishment by the world community .
Too little,too late by the Vatican.The damage has already been done.The pope's failure to speak publicly and loudly over this is most disappointing.One would have expected world leaders to speak out loudly against this horrifying abuse of a child for the sake of a religion.
There has been a blackout on the newschannels of this atrocity in Islamabad.there's been just one segment on one show about this,other than that,none of the many dozens of talkshows said anything about this.Why the media blackout over this abuse of non-muslims in our country? Why this deliberate ignorance of this matter by our othrewise very active and vocal news anchors. Why no talkshow anchor is willing to do a show on this atrocity? Are the crimes against non-muslims not worthy of even a simple discussion on tv?
Why has the vatican woken up so late? Christians have been facing horrific treatment in pakistan at the hands of the religious majority for a very long time.Why didn't the Vatican speak up earlier against the mistreatment of Christians in pakistan? and it's not only christians,but all non-muslims like Hindus,Parsis,Ahamdis as well as Atheists and agnostics who are forced to live as second class citizens in pakistani society.It's time someone spoke up for the rights of the non-muslim pakistanis and the atheist pakistanis as well.