11-year-old Christian girl accused of blasphemy
Officials of the Ramna Police Station told The Express Tribune that the girl, named Rifta Masih, had burned a Noorani Qaida on August 16 and threw it in garbage after putting it in a plastic bag. Masih belonged to the rural area of Mehrabadi, which is next to the G-11 sector in Islamabad.
Soon after the incident, residents of the area had gathered to lodge their protest. The protesters also allegedly beat up the girl and her mother, while the rest of the girl’s family managed to escape.
The Kashmir Highway was also blocked by the protesters, but they dispersed after the police lodged an FIR of the case and took Rifta into custody.
The girl has been sent to a juvenile jail on judicial remand.
The news emerged when a website called “Christians in Pakistan” reported the incident. The report alleges that Rifta has Down syndrome and was falsely accused of burning 10 pages of the Holy Quran.
The report added that the complaint against the girl was filed by Alsyed Muhammad Ummad. It also states that the girl suffers from Down Syndrome.
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.
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@Masroor: Ha ha
@Floating float: if you cant own the country, we'd be better off with the likes of you out of this country, when you're house is collapsing with your family in it, you dont run away, you stick with them, and play your part in saving them...the problem with people like you is that they never have owned Pakistan, and not just you, majority of the people in the country today, and me as well, i should probably replace "you" with "we" here though....
oh my dear friends..............dis US & EU poked in burma muslims Genocecide...so quickly as in this case...although she is acused...not hanged....if will be low IQ,insane or innocent will be released...................dn't be biased..............mulims & especialy pakistanis give a lot of respect to our non muslim pakistanis.................but no compromise on ALLAH & RASOOL Blesphemy law..........................when issue is about christians responese & moral values are different.... but when muslims are bombed & slaughtered then humanity champions enjoy a deep...sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppppppppppp....
@Naeem Malik(Dublin): dear naeem...........................thousands of muslims are acused or even can say humans acused, there is a mechanism...if it will be a false blame....girl will be released...... have u shown same sympathy with burma muslims....have us & eu poked in that brytal act of genocide so quickly as in this case.........aankhen kholo???????????
@C. Nandkishore: Exactly what they do in Indian slums and Hindu extremist strongholds.
its so shameful n undispeakable for a mentally challenged minor, i mean a minor and mentally challed.. minors never make decisions on their on coz they dont know good or bad n when it comes to a minor who is mentally disabled? its so unfair, unrealiastic for challenging a mentally challenged person..
If the people of Pakistan want Islam to be known as the religion of peace then they are going the wrong way. Hardly any day goes by without the Muslim Ummah defaming Islam by their barbaric acts of killings or asking for death sentences. In my humble opinion a human life especially that of a 11 year old mentally challenged girl is more important than burning any holy book. Books can be reprinted but a human life once taken cannot be brought back. There is no nation in the world which asks for death sentence for blaspheming their prophets except in conservative Muslim countries. Let us Muslims join the community of nations and leave the dark ages of barbarity.
This law is really very painful for all Pakistani. It is being missed used in this country.
We are muslims and have we ever cared about the Quranic verses written on the Front page of every news paper? No we dont care. We used to through it into the Garbage or give it to raddi wala. These newspapers and used for wrapping gift packs or pack Somasa/Pikaro et. Doesn't it comes under blamesy. If this litte girl is punished then I think that every pakistani is guilty of disgracing Quran and its Holy verses. Everyone should be accused for blasphemy!
How about people selling pakoras and samosa wrapped in newspapers bearing Quranic verses ,If you start arresting them or burning them alive it is going to be an uphill task, bomb them ! come on ! insanity is ruling right left and centre.
It is interesting that pious idiots appear to think they are Allah's servants and are merely carrying out his will.when they start out on a witch hunt. Well, I have news for them. Allah is quite capable of looking after any situation which may arise, without assistance from petty minded people.
This was exactly like the jahalat period before Islam in arabia. Kafirs killing girls and anyone who did not believe the statue gods. What has changed? Nothing except now the same thing is done in the name of Islam.
Just wondering,that before this silly law,I never heard of any christian burning the pages of holy Quran,but as soon as this law has come,every christian has gone mad.Every other day they are doing such things.WHY?Can't we see that people are using this to take there revenge.We seriously need to do some thing
Matthew 24:8-9
King James Version (KJV)
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Politicians, religious personnel, and other leaders, seem to be making the world more and more scarier by the day. I always used to think there was some rationality in the world. The aforesaid people appear to be going out of their way to prove me wrong.
Pakistan is ceased to be a nation and become a club of some fanatics.
What will happen to Pakistan, if people keep behaving like this? When will we ever learn from our mistakes?
Shame on the residents of G-11.
@Jat: Why pakistanis are acting like animals rather than human beings?How can one justify jailing a mentally challenged girl for Blsphemy?Is there no normal human beings in Pak?
next we will see 11 month old baby arrested for "blasphemy" since she was drinking milk from bottle which had Arabic written on it !!!
If anybody wants to know how sick a nation can get, they just have to read this piece. The word 'disgusting' hardly does justice. Pakistan deserves to be in the plight it is in right now.
@Masroor
Caste sucks, but nobody kills me for telling them it's dumb. There are tribal regions where it might not be safe, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel and things are improving with people becoming more open, civilized, and progressive as a society. That beats the uncontrolled spiral into the 8th century for Pakistan, which is sad because Pakistan has a very large population of intelligent and bright people being held hostage by a large minority of barbarians.
Blasphemy laws is an insult to humanity. Now the whole world can what a cruel and inhumane country pakistan is
Some lines were missing from my earlier posted comment. I'm posting the comment again:
When Pakistan was transformed into a gutter of barbarism by the ignorant mullahs in the name of pure ‘Islam’ and their political bosses, both old and the new ones, the people of Pakistan have been killing each other on sectarian grounds. The seeds sown by Maududi have wrought havoc in Pakistan. In this vicious cycle of violence and inhumanity, the Sunnis have specially targeted Shias, Ahmadis, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, etc.
The Christians of Pakistan have been the most oppressed and marginalised socially, economically and politically. They are also the most vulnerable people in Pakistan and they become an easy prey of the rage of ignorant Muslim masses, who are always provoked by their preachers and mullahs to commit crimes against the Christians. Now in the name of the so-called blasphemy laws, any Muslim mischief-monger can accuse a Christian of insulting the Prophet Muhammad, the Quran or Islam. As a result, innocent Christians are victimised and penalised by the Muslims. It is high time for the democratic forces and all people of good-will in Pakistan to stand for the equal rights of all religious communities in Pakistan and call for the abrogation of the blasphemy laws. Instead Pakistan should have laws against those people who preach hatred against any religious sect or religious minorities and provoke violence in the name of a pure ‘Islam’. What is happening in Pakistan in the name of pure ‘Islam’ has nothing to do with Islam; it is barbarism, pure and simple.
Interesting to see how all this has been spun; please use your senses and understand that even if she what she had done, she had only done it to the noorani qaida which is NOT the Quran. The NQ is a basics book which teaches how to read the Quran, it is NOT the Quran itself. Those who have equated it to the Quran, in my opinion, have actually committed blasphemy. Get them first for making everyone think that the NQ is the Quran. If you think the NQ is the Quran then please go ahead and find your nearest copy and you can see it is only a collection of words picked form the Quran in any order that the beginning student will be able to master rules of reading Quran. If you think all those words are Quranic then please think again as the order is so jumbled up that some statements might in fact be contrary to islamic beliefs. Please do your HW Pakistan, don't show your ignorance.
@Ali: So sir, how do you get to know about these millions of atrocities happening in India since the Indian media does not report it? That said, I must say Pakistan media is much more alert than Indian media
@Zaman Punyali:
It is the not question of what is burnt but insanity of blaming her for blasphemy and beating 11 year old with down syndrome and her mother for the act?
Laws shouldn't be miss used, at 11 years age, how can a girl know about that? its pity that laws in our state are used in such a bad way....
Is there no charity or kindness in Islam...an 11 yr old with downs syndrome is a special person and should be protected...any mullah who would require punishment is not a man of God...
Why is the United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights organizations silent over this apparent crime against humanity by Islamic republic of Pakistan?
@Concerned: She has Downs Syndrome, I'd say she doesn't HAVE a faith anymore than a baby does. While the people of faith in the region are misusing laws to further their religious agendas, much the way Christians have tried to warp American laws, don't foist the adult version of Santa Claus on someone just because they don't have the full use of their mental faculties.
@indian
You should focus on your country where cases severe that this have happened
Every Muslim who does nothing about the atrocities of radical Islam is guilty. 'The only requirement for evil to triumph is that good people do nothing.'
If you are a Muslim and you are not ACTIVELY and PUBLICLY speaking out against the atrocities committed in the name of your religion, you are condoning these atrocities. It's really quite simple. You are either FOR it or AGAINST it. There is no grey area.
I have seen no large Muslim rallies against the atrocities of radical Islam. No scholars fighting the theological principle of ABROGATION - which radical Islamists use as a justification for violence. Until I do, I will NOT believe that Islam is a religion of peace.
Stake your claim, and stand by it. The radical Islamists have done so. It's time for peaceful and tolerant Muslims to do likewise.
@Vikram: i dont know about the girl but you seem to have an IQ of 40
@sabi: not only that but with DOWN SYNDROME. a special child. i just can't stop crying
Muhammad Ali Siddiqui,
A girl burns noorani qaida...end of story. no harm done. So someone please tell me why they are bothering the nice little girl?
@the Skunk: Atleast in the context of the current news you could not stop saying 'Islam is the religion for all times to come'. The problem is even with the moderates like yourselves this superiority attitude is what makes the problem so difficult to root out in your part of the world.
This is REDEFINING STUPIDITY
Greatness inhibits great strength, It does not get hurt by conscious or unconscious demeaning act. No laws are required to protect greatness of a school of thought or a personality any where in the world.----- Ejaz Mahmood(Founder of Saanjo Script.)
@Me: Advice? Separate religion from your government, of course. (Blasphemy is a victimless crime.)
@Ali,who says there are thousands of such acts happening in India but Indian media chooses not to report them so that name of the country is not tarnished.my dear Ali If Indian media is not reporting such acts according to you,how such so called thousands of atrocities are coming to your knowledge.may be sleeper cells of LeT sent this message to you or its simply intuition on your part.
@Vikram: I really hope that you have an iq below 40, otherwise I really start to fear how fascist and blind some people here really are! I think there is such an immensely low self esteem of people that they even attack little children. Even without down syndrom an 11 year old child cannot be prosecuted for its actions! In any civilised society! But Pakistan really becomes fascist, sadly, because it is such a beautiful and friendly place otherwise!! To all still normal Pakistanis: Let us stand up and not tolerate that some dumb idiots take others hostage with their dangerous blindness! To all true muslims who are prctising the peaceful religion of Islam, I hope you will take over tye agenda of Pakistan again!
@Mj:
"Ashamed to share my country with such barbaric and intolerant masses."
While your good sentiments are understood, just one correction. "Barbaric and intolerant masses" don't allow you, a sensible humanist, to share their country with them,
Headline: "9 year old Pakistani boy of Muslim faith with neurosis defaced the Bible in Idhao. Christian mob lynches minor and his father. Idaho courts issue non-bailable arrest warrant. "
How many conservative Pakistani Muslims would be up and arms about this and condemn it? This is obviously fictious but whats happening in Pakistan is nothing less.
We cry about injustice being meted out to Aafia Bibi but if this is the situation in our country and our concept of justice, condeming an 11 year old with Down syndrome, I believe even Bibi Aafia would be happier not coming back to Pakistan and instead taking refuge in another country.
Unfair and unjust on so many levels. My prayers for the little girl and her family. When a country has laws like this, no wonder it is a failure as a nation.
@mr. righty rightist:
Looks like out side of Muslims, his sympathies lie with the "people of the book" alone.
Is there going to be an end to the strategic depth the rulers of the country want the country to fall into before they feel they have achieved their goal.
Shia, Hindu, Ahmadi and now Christian. Every one except Sunni is outcast in Pakistan. Then they complain about Gujarat? Where is Modi when you need him?
And we talk about Human rights and rights of muslims in burma and around the world.....
This news is no-where to be found in two other English-speaking newspapers and the third reporting the eleven year old girl is a scavenger and suffering from Down's syndrome. Down's syndrome causes mental retardation leading to Mongoloid features. How can this mentally retarded scavenger girl know what she was doing? Was the accuser also in the garbage dump? And what was he doing there?
Lack of education, mullas by the millions, sinking economy, corruption galore, shackles of terrorism, what more can you ask for to crack this nation. The Blasphemy Law and Hudood Ordinance are the catalytic time-bombs and handiwork of sycophants advising General Zia (late). With these hydra-headed demons alive and kicking, what better present on a platter can be handed to our attackers. Religion is not the exclusive right of the ubiquitous and iniquitous mulla.
Since, Islam is a religion for all times to come, there are reformers and clear headed persons who ask questions and give answers that the banal and cliched mulla does not understand or approve. This invariably leads to an onslaught of fisticuffs.
"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings." (William Shakespeare)
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor (Bishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Prize for Peace 1984)
Salams to a better Pakistan
@Ali: The best part is that despite the media not reporting it, you still know about it. Way to go charlie, sorry Ali
@mmk: Off course this is the pakistan Qaid made for the minorities. He developed a new concept of religious nazism. Ask zaid hamid. He will explain better.
@Ahmed HM:
".....but I am sure that it serves the purpose of tribune to attack blasphemy law as well as Islamic values.'
And, what would be those "Islamic values be"? Burning, killing and beheading someone for blasphemy and apostasy? How are Islamic values of of Muslims affected when someone disagrees with some aspects of the faith, burns a paper or wants to give up Islam? Does god (or his prophet) need human protection and do they get easily offended by these acts of blasphemy and apostasy? Is this faith so shallow?
before any action, think what Prophet Mohammad would be doing in such a situation, you will get the answer.
What the US needs to do is deport all Pakistanis, will stop this in a minute
so pakistanis will kill everyone they dont like and the government will let the mob rule. This is not a country, but a joke a failed state and an abomination upon earth.
This will lead our country no where. We are killing people in the name of religion. We have laws and misuse them. I don't know where this will lead us in upcoming years.
This is shameful action agaist the poor girl. Noorani quaida is not Quaran. We have often seen teendabbas in the streets for putting qurani pages in them .
They are often not vacated for months lying in dust/mud/rain. they are overloaded and the holy pages r seen scattered on ground..
Who is resposible for this disrespect of holy pages. i have seen with my own eyes. THe lahore canal is cleaned every year and tonnes of Qurans/verses are explored from there where r such honourable persons at that time.Against whome the cases have been registred.
This is realy shameful on behalf ofsuch muslims-----. the poor girl -who never knew what it was.
Allah allows forgiveness in the Quran Allah name Rahman Rahiem
National Assembly and Senate must revoke these fascist laws pertaining to Blasphemy. If Prophet (peace be upon him) was alive today, he would have never allowed these laws, Islam's substance is about forgiveness, flexibiliy and patience.
The first question is .. where did she get a noorani qaida???
It is a grave sin to burn holy pages of quran (though some muslims do it all the time).
We dont know whether an 11 year old could do it on purpose because this could be a Yahood-o-Nisarah ki saazish.
Don't Generalize it by saying "Pakistani Muslims". I had the opportunity to meet the best Muslim people and who would become my best friends, and obviously who commented against the girl could not be one of them.
@Umer: to hassan I am sure you have heard the phrase "When I shut my mouth and turn away, it doesn’t mean you’ve won. It simply means that you are not worth any more of my time." This is what I do when I detect that the other person has an IQ of single digits. In this case even less then this poor girl who suffers from downs syndrome. Just read his comments and ask yourself why does he keep posting comments when hardly anyone bothers recommending them. He is raged with hate towards moderates.
Shame on the self-claimed protectors of Islam. When they are in countries like Japan they pretend to be Ahmadis or Christians while they persecute them in Pakistan. When they are in North America their second wives become their sisters or aunts to escape the law. Shame on you.
@Maqbool: her crime is being born as an infidel in a very religious country that does not know what is the pupose of islam. Every Muslim Pakistani is trying to go to heaven.
@Awans: Some one should a blog on these people who are in jail for Blasphemy.
An Ahmadi man is in jail for refusing to remove a translation of a Quranic text that read: "O people of faith always speak the straight truth" hanging in his shop.
Many Ahmadis get arrested for posing as Muslims.
After killing of Shias, Ahmadis, Hindus, Barelvis the brave and pious from the land of pure top up their happiness of Ramadhan by celebrating 3 Eids and accusing a minor girl with down syndrome with Blasphemy. Eid Mubarak to all.
By the way, has anyone accused of blasphemy in the past got a fair trial? I think not because they are killed before that. That reminds me the second Khalifa of Islam who abolished the punishment of cutting hands for theft by saying that unless he cannot guarantee the food safety for all the citizens, he cannot punish any hungry if he steels food. In the same way if Pakistani state cannot ensure a free and fair trial of accused and save their life from people who take law into their own hand, it is high time the blasphemy laws should be revoked.
Iqbal had rightly said - Deen e mullah fee sabeelillah fasaad
@Ali: I don't know where you get the comparison with India from but that's not my point - I believe it is imperative that the media cover such cases, all over the world as otherwise, how will the plight of such mistreated people reach our ears? If the media anywhere doesn't report such things, they are acting in cahoots with the perpetrators of these crimes...every small incident affecting the common man should be highlighted so we wake up and ask questions - and in our so called democracies - numbers matter - so when more voices ask questions, these politicians are also forced to act.
@mmk:{""The girl is a maid. She works in one of the houses nearby and she was given radi by her owner to burn and throw away"
Mullahs should go and punish this girl's employer.May be her employer did it knowingly to force the family to convert to Islam.
I ma crying to read this as i ave 11 year daughter also. what a shame to misue my religion for this honor killing.of this whole family.
Drones.....where are drones?
pakistan drones are best for you
If Pakistan is so pure, why are you over here?
Let alone the fact that these people are picking on a minor what proof do they have other than word of those accusing the girl?
I did not want to put anything negative because its just before Eid - but I have to speak up and not just me ALL of us should especially Pakistanis who call themselves Muslims!
Look at the way this persecution of now an innocent downs syndrome 11 year old little girl is being done in Pakistan - is this the Eid Present that your Mullahs in Pakistan are offering our world?
You cry tears for others in Palestine, Burma and nations everywhere - yet at your own doorstep, in your own house persecution and abuse of Islam is being carried out and you look the other way?
Shame on you!
And Eid Mubarak to those who are willing to help the innocent, poor, weak from whatever background!
How typically tribun-ish this news item is.. only appears on a web page n then taken on the ET main stream! stop promoting this hatred among reliogions without any solid proof of the event. Just a name, and u make the story.
@Vikram: Are you serious.....Duh!
An 11 year old unfortunate girl with Down syndrome accused of and arrested for committing blesphemy.Even if she did it she is mentally challanged . Question, is if the whole nation especially the rabid clergy brain dead ?
Ch Ch!!!! Earlier I used to feel a sense of anger over this sort of news from Pakistan, but now I feel a sense of extreme pity for the people of Pakistan, particularly for the sane Pakistanis!!!!
AWWWW how awful! I am a Christain too! It means we Minorities don't have any type of Protection in this Country! Is this Islam? Islam teaches to be Nice and Generous with Children's and Non-Muslims! What type of Respect with get from this Country? Now I know why Hindu- Pakistani left To India! Just because of Lack of care of the Minorities. If the girl has did such a Thing u should investigate neither betting her and her mother! Is this Humanity? I don't think so! That's why I am also Afraid to Live in Pakistan! Very bad news! People take laws in their own hands!
@Pakistanis : What is wrong with you People???
Unfortunate that even today because of ignorance - I am not going to blame the poor little girl - the Holy Quran is not able to receive the proper respect it so richly deserves. Minorities should be educated about different ways to be careful.
I hope the blasphemer is treated with leniency in this case. Death sentence may be excessive, given the extenuating circumstances, although we should not pre-judge the case.
First of all is there any evidence and burned part of Quran left which leads to accused one!???! secondly there is no Quranic verse that allow to kill a human for blasphemy. if it is then put forward ... thirdly child is suffering from syndrome .... and fourth is girl is not adult .. so Shari'a does not allow any immature and non - adult to get punishment ...
How did a Christian girl come to the possession of a Noorani Qaida? Only Muslims have access to it. Goes to show that it was supplied to the girl in question by Blasphemy chargers.
@Ahmed HM: Could it be that mentally unstable non-Muslim individuals are somehow on purpose handed these Islamic and Quranic texts by mentally stable Muslims with vile intention, just so they can create an excuse to beat up the minorities?
@hassan: your sick narrow view is nauseating... FYI the muslims enjoy complete religious freedom in USA... no one is burning their mosques... have you ever been to US??? because from what you have written it is clear that you have no idea how things are in US... if it is so bad why dont your precious persecuted muslims come back to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan... NO they choose to stay there and exploit the quality of life provided there... for once stop playing the victim and own up to the atrocities that have been carried out in the name of Islam... Let me put it this way... if you are so concerned about Islam being persecuted why dont ALL MUSLIMS LIVE IN PAKISTAN since it is an Islamic ideological state... Pathetic... simply pathetic...
@Sid: And FYI you are stupid as well... because ET has brought something to the public. An issue that needs to be addressed... so what that you have shia, ahmedi, hindu etc friends... what have you done to stop the persecution of minorities... what did you do in the case of Aasia bibi... stop living in your bubble and face the fact... that Pakistan is an islamic fundamentalist state ruled by the mullahs... either do something about it or stay quiet... but stop denying the facts!
Is Noorani Qaida holy book? I remember its just arabic words arranged for grammatically correct recitation of Quran. The booklet itself does not have any excerpt from Quran Shareef
Simply insane!!! For God's sake since when a Noornai Qaida has become Quran!! it is just an Arabic learning booklet. Shame on us as a society for permiting this kind of high-handness against the minorities.
Common sense says even a maniac can not dare to burn holy book in this country, and why will any one do it? Not possible.
It is responsibility of state to make laws which shall not be misused and harm fellow Pakistanis . And if any law is commonly mis used then state shall act immediately to repeal such laws.
we can repeal blasphemy law but the mindset will still remain the same unfortunately. blocking a highway for this incident and that too in capital of Pakistan? Just shameful.
@Ali: Most papers in Pakistan has ignored this news because it is a 11 year old Christian girl is in jail. I wonder when world community of Christians will wake up and help these Christians. People like Ali are as dangerous as Mullahs or people who are after this girl.
@mmk: Muslims have to follow Imams who follow Quran. Common sense id not allowed.
Why is it not a blasphemy when the so called Muslims deface or remove Kalma Tayyabah or Quranic text from Ahmadi mosques or dismantle the minarets of mosques which were there even before Pakistan creation? Why worry about Babari Mosque then!
kids do all kind of stuff.. why do people care so much. Also how did a Christian girl end up with the Noorani Qaida. Who gave it to her?
Faith triumphs-the cost is reason.
@hassan:
This is regularly done in Pakistan. Gojra is just one incident where Christians, Churches and bibles were burnt with no punishment whatsoever to the culprits even though everyone knew who they were. What is your point?
Why did they not send her home ?
Judicial remand ? 11 year old!
Allama Iqbal and Muhammed Ali Jinnah wasted their time.
@jhan6120 Growing up in the 70s I have seen with my own eyes the effect of Saudi money on the radicalization of my school friends.
@Sid:
Does it mean it should be ignored and not fixed?
stop complaning everybody. Everywhere this kinda events taking place. USA burning muslims mosque, rest of world disrespecting our prophet (PBUH), non-muslims burning quran in india, afghanistan. India kills lot lot of muslim, burma killing muslim. No where media is talking and our media sponsored by foreign agencies, always exaggerating things. How will non-muslims feel if someone burns their holly book, destroy their church and temple infront of them, disrespect their prophets and father. there so called freedom of speech is hurting the feeling of muslims. all the bad things the non-muslim do in the name of freedom of speech hurting and depressing muslims and making them angry and kinda fundamentalist due to hate. i can see lot of minorities in my city enjoying their religious freedom. Minorities should feel free to do whatever they want but shouldn't disrespect muslims.....
It took hour to pass a 'bad law' to protect one man against contempt of court, luckily this was struck down. How many years will it take to amend this law ,bad as it stands, so that it is not misused.
Show me the video proof of the protest . I don't believe Express tribune.
look at caption "11 year old disabled christian girl" perfect caption for anti pakistan propoganda.
PPP, MQM, ANP, PML(All of them), PTI et al are all silent on this matter. Should we act surprised?
Blasphemy, is there any one who would be kind enough to describe it's definition? Each day in every civil, appeal, session, high n SC court people with beard n others hold Holly Quran n Swear to "tell the truth, nothing but the truth" but most of them (sorry to say) lie. Is this action comes in "blasphemy" if not than can some one explain why not?
Sad and bad news. For God's sake have mercy upon your religon and your own people. Intolerance is bursting the fabric of the society at its seams. Please be humane. Eleven year child is a child and cannot understand such gimmicks.
Pakistan...a country of converts Pakistan might be the only country where invaders are decorated & ancestors are prosecuted. What else can you expect.
Happy Eid, everyone.
Nothing surprises me any more
Its awful to have such incidents happening at the rate beyond one's understanding . Respect for all is the essence & teaching of Islam .Tolerance is one of the core values of Islam .Its really shocking to see that a mob was gathered by a person to save Islam and holy Quran from an 11 years old girl with a disability .He should be booked equally since he watched that happening and instead of with a polite and mannerly way avoid that kid to commit it rather he took an occasion to make it an issue . We Pakistanis have taken on ourself the responsibility of saving quran & Prophet (PBUH ) Legacy when even we are not worth to be called his followers .He was a symbol of peace and tolerance and we are bunch of retards to commit every crime in name of religion . Finally if we don't stop the way we have been preaching our hatred , our generations will have nothing but a society with hate hate and just hate .
Believe it or not, this blasphemy law alone has cost this country too much, consider it directly or indirectly. But Alas! Khuda ny aj tak us qaum ki halat nhi badli, na ho jis ko khayal ap apni halat k badalney ka... Mark my words, this country can not see a glimpse of success without developing an environment of peace for minorities and unless this nation learns to live with religious tolerance.
Ahmedis, Hindus, Shias, Christians..... This country is not for anyone of them.
Supremecourt is busy which hunting and suporter of extreemist When it had opportunity it sided with kidnapers Why not take pseudo moto
Nest time they gonna accuse someone in the womb of their mother.
Our police is very efficient. Naysayers have been proven wrong.
Beautiful news.
Oh come on Muslims, this isn't what Islam teaches!
When moderate and peace loving Muslims stand up and fight radical Islam, these horrors will stop. It's up to MUSLIMS to pull Islam out of the 7th century!! This will be very hard to do with countries like Saudi Arabia spending BILLIONS of dollars a year to import Wahabism and so forth. Nonetheless, tolerant, peace-loving Muslims MUST stand up against the barbarity of radical Islam and stop pointing their fingers at everyone else. It begins with YOU!!
And don't talk to me about 'tolerance.' When Islam allows synagogues and churches to be built in Mecca, I'll CONSIDER tolerance - MAYBE. Radical Islam uses the whole 'tolerance' act in order to dupe western leftists to their cause. I won't sacrifice reason to political correctness in order to mollify hyporcites and murderers.
This news comes as no surprise given the fact that it's from Pakistan. After all, it's the same country where in one of its cities, a ten year old girl was expelled from school and the family had to leave the city they lived in because the girl had misspelled an Islamic word.
So, after targeting adults, minors and those suffering from disabilities, who's next on the list? I guess that only leaves out the toddlers, infants and animals.
For God sake its an 11 yr old kid!
@Ali: What nonsense argument! I have never seen people justifying such incidences on the basis of "national honor".. Instead of calling "spade a spade" and justice to the poor little girl who was beaten by crowd you are more worried about national honor. No wonder Pakistan has reached to this stage where bombing, killing, abduction has become day to day event.
When oppression, persecution and tyranny reaches the ultimate limit and crosses all boundaries in a society, a savior comes to the rescue...I feel the time has come to send that avatar to pakistan...time has come to send 'smiling buddha' to pakistan...
Pakistan! What kind of joke have you become! You arrest disabled children for burning the Quran, even Though there was no ill intention! Yet you continue to abuse the Quran yourself by hating the shariah- when you allow drones to kill children, allow politicians to steal, allow millions to suffer in hunger and poverty! This is the kind of fake shariah implemented to please the dumb Muslims who have no care for Pakistan or Islam!
@Ali:
That's right. Supress all news of oppression. Pretend Pakistan is all heaven while people are being killed, persecuted and oppressed. Let things get worst, do not talk.
How about getting rid of the blasphemy law instead, the root of this issue?
This is a CIA/RAW/Mossad conspiracy to defame Pakistan.
among the top 10 commented articles on ET right now, as many as 8 articles are concerned with religion, while in the rest of the world religion is considered a passe, or a personal affair.
and, it goes a long way to prove as to why pakistan is going to find itself in soup in this decade.
God will not forgive us for this someone plz have this girl release plz for God sake plz
@Vikram, since you don't have a Muslim name, why are you getting a twisted up?.. and if ur comment was tongue-in-cheek, well you're really not funny..
@Haris Chaudhry: Jews have already been driven out in 1948, others to follow.
This is such a ridiculous action that I can't find words to express myself.. I am a Muslum, and daily I am more and more ashamed of being one with these insane acts going on in Pakistan.. killing Shias, Ahmedis, deciding one is superior than the other, this is no Islam.. I don't follow the religion that is being propagated in my country these days..do NOT call it Islam, that is a disgrace to the Prophets and Gods name..
Blasphemy is a victimless crime that deserves no punishment. What a barbaric, backwards people. Disgusting.
@Ali: even in this despondent situation,he couldn't resist himself to bring India into it.
@Ali: Mr Ali I am a Pakistani and I know we are the biggest Hypocrites on the planet. Do you know in Punjab hundreds of people are in jail on Blasphemy cases and all are Chrsitians and Ahmedis and you want to silence ET on such news???. The people like you just want to silence the media. You are a mockery to the world because you are doing such heinous acts. Stop telling ET not to publish these news. They are speaking truth and it is very dangerous for Hypocrites Tableeghis living in West and try to silence voices in Pakistan.
why tribune not allowing my comments. i can see indian and anti-pakistani comments on your forum and my comments are blocked. is this forum supported by indians or for indians.
@Ali: "ET. for god sake stop giving coverage to such news. you are the reason why pakistan is insulted so much internationally. If you look at india there are thousands of such cases taking place every month but their media does not give coverage to such news. Thats the difference between pakistani and an indian media"
You care more about the 'reputation' of the country rather than the life of an innocent child which is in imminent danger? ET's job is to report the news and hold up the mirror to reflect society's beauty and ugliness.
Just change the name of the country to "Sunni Islamistan" where only the pure Sunni Muslims live. Make Afghanistan part of Sunni Islamistan as well. All the dissafected Sunni Islamists of the world can then immigrate into Sunni Islamistan in exchange for Pakistani Ahmadis and Christians. The Pakistani Shiites can relocate to Iraq or Iran in an exchange with the Sunnis living in those countries. India will take the Pakistani Hindus in exchange for India's Islmamists, and everyone will be happy. Summi Islmamistan can then implement the Sharia to it's heart's content, and ban everything that needs to be banned. The nations of the world will chip in to build a huge electric fense surrounding Summi Islamistan to keep out the impure - problem solved.
thanks to General Zia...
There cannot be a more evident sign of a Nation's death.
are you serious???? i mean even 11 years old kids are not spared??
i feel ashamed to be pakistani :-/
If true, this news is disorienting, infuriating and horrifying. As terrible as I feel for the poor child and her family, I am very concerned that the international media is going to have a field day with this information. However, justice can only be meted out when atrocities are brought to light... and frankly hundreds have become victims thanks to the blasphemy law. Pakistan can't be an islamic republic and a secular state, at some point we HAVE to make a definitive decision. Also I have serious doubts about the authenticity of the article, it's vague and any details are uncorroborated. Moreover, the tribune is somewhat infamous for sensationalism and BAD journalism.
@common sense: Some Muslim might have done this. The person knew girl's mental condition and planned this to make the family run, so that he can have their belongings and/or property.
ET. for god sake stop giving coverage to such news. you are the reason why pakistan is insulted so much internationally. If you look at india there are thousands of such cases taking place every month but their media does not give coverage to such news. Thats the difference between pakistani and an indian media
Uff ! Kids are supposed to be loved , not to be punished. My nephew has down syndrome . They are very lovable and special . Please don't treat like them. God! Its just shocking. Mullahiyath is a disease , it lacks reasoning and the human values for compassion , love and tolerance.
@Umer: So any one who kills a Blasphemer, can take his family to heaven also. Way to go.
Pakistan inches away from becoming theocratic state
great! but why just arrest her, why not kill her on the spot…,she should be stoned to DEATH, by the person who filed the FIR(should be given nishan he haider), in front of the mullahs, the religious minister and the police.This will be the greatest offering to ALLAH ON THIS EID.This should be televised live on all channels.GREAT MOMENT FOR PAKISTAN.
@patriot: What did police do wrong here? They have to follow the law, and also, arresting the girl might have saved her from death and/or injury at the hand of the mob. Sadly, mindsets can not be controlled by law. This is Pakistan . . even if blasphemy law is repelled, mob-justice will still prevail.
Pkistan- take suo-moto before God takes suo-moto.no joke.
The girl is a maid. She works in one of the houses nearby and she was given radi by her owner to burn and throw away. She is illiterate and a also a christain how on earth was she to know these are pages of the holy quran! She is 11 years old didnt even know what she was doing. For Gods sake guys use some common sense. Express tribune please get to the depth of this story you are miss reporting! Is this the PAkistan Quaid made for the minorities
@Jakos: So because of one poor girl's fate, you want millions of people dead? You want to bomb millions of innocent people because of what happens to a few innocent? How does that make you better than those who beat the girl and lodged a complaint against her?
Mullah ka Pakistan... run for ur faith nay your lives
Ashamed to share my country with such barbaric and intolerant masses.
How awful, 11 years old? Pakistan continues to surprise all those who had hoped the country had reached rock bottom. Obviously not. Wake up people. What are doing to yourselves and your reputation around the world.
Don't bash mullah this is his bread and butter.Bash on the cowardice of authorities.shame!
@Paki Christian who writes "Shia killings.Checked.Ahmadis Persecution. Checked. Christians accused of blasphemy. Checked. Eid Mubarak to all Muslims!"
What about Hindus that were pushed out of the country?
It's a sad day in the day of a Christian girl with down syndrome. Let's pray for the repeal of this blashempy law and all other laws against minorities in Pakistan.
This is an indication of where this country is heading and will eventually be in a few years time.
I am sure this is a conspiracy to defame Pakistan and Islam which is a religion of peace and the fastest-growing religion in the world.
Okay, Keyboard warriors, You have all poured in ur feelings. Have a coffee break. Come ready for typing the comments for the next entertainment from pakistan after just 5 minutes.
mullah paving way for God's wreath.
A Noorani Qaida is not a Quran at first place. It only carries Arabic alphabet and some basic Arabic text. So technically Quran isn't burnt.
@Gul Khan Momand: are you in fasailabad? or you think people are incapable of such things?
After hearing this type of news, myself and my friends in Brazil support drone strikes on all Pakistan soil.
ET,what r you doing?where is my comment?
Why do so many such events happen in Ramazan?
The case should be investigate thoroughly by the government, as an eleven old Christian girl cannot become biased against the Holy Book Quran, Noorani Qaida or even the religion Islam.
Another gift by muslims of Pakistan to the non-muslims of Pakistan on Eid....Thanks and regards. Hope you saved Islam from his 11 year old girl suffering from Down's syndrome.
Leading towards stone age..
Has not God given you guys even the basic common sense or you all continue to live in stone ages!! A girl that needs help, burnt holy pages inadvertently and the authority arrests her. What kind of justice is it? Or is the Govt/people/ so insecure ?
Shia killings.Checked.Ahmadis Persecution. Checked. Christians accused of blasphemy. Checked. Eid Mubarak to all Muslims!
Shocking!
I see the problem in the overall police system. An overhaul of police process is required... this is one incident of how police behaves illogically and irrationally
I'm ashamed to be a Pakistani. Can;t wait to leave this pathetic country.
what is wrong with these holier than thou people?!!!
really shameful on part of alsyed muhammad ummad.
May Allah keep the minorities safe in this country where moulvis seem to have gone nuts.
Its Ramzan so every deed has greater reward.
Even a girl with Down Syndrome is not safe in Pakistan.....
There are people who are less intelligent than her
Arresting a child who's got down's syndrome, seriously??!! Where do you folks stop at with this farcical display of love for religion?
Shame shame shame on you. Who has the Down Syndrome here that is the question.
why would some one burn Quran and why would some one convict her.Crazy. ET keep giving me shocks everyday.only 1% news are true.rest all fabricated.
great! but why just arrest her, why not kill her on the spot...that way all the mentally handicapped people will be vary of never doing anything blasphemous....that makes sense, right!
I pray the girl, a minor and with down syndrome, is not subjected to mob justice!
ET enough is enough. Now stop promoting all these false news. This newspaper has turned into a full time source of promoting hatred among different religious sects.
here we go again...
This is really messed up Arrest the guy who has complained and make him an example
for gods sake please get rid of this medieval blasphemy law! countless people have suffered courtesy of Ziaul Haq
Pakistan shining.
Eleven-year old???
Now what will happen to the poor girl? Burning or stoning?
This is the land of the purest of the pure.
Any impurity in the form of shia, barelvi, ahmedi, christian, hindu, jew, atheist and agnostic strictly forbidden !
Even if you are a minor, deranged or clinically insane, we dont care.
Welcome to the Islamic Caliphate of Pakistan :)
I am still surprised how do these medically sick people find Quran in the first place. Previously, it was reported that a mentally retarded individual took the Holy Quran and burnt it in public, the public later burning him as well. Now, we have this 11 year old Christian girl who somehow burns pages of the Holy Quran. There is no denying that any law can be used against anyone, but I am sure that it serves the purpose of tribune to attack blasphemy law as well as Islamic values.
This is even beyond jungle law.
An 11 year-old girl targeted for her faith. These laws are being misused - they're too weak and too indiscriminate. Appropriate legislation to strengthen the laws must be introduced. Pakistan is becoming a fascist state.
Bravo Pakistanis ! Is there no heinous deed that you cannot do ?