HRCP condemns blasphemy charge against 11-year-old
The girl, named Rifta Masih, had burned a Noorani Qaida on August 16 and had thrown 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.
In a statement, the commission said that “the fact that the girl is a juvenile and suffers from Down’s Syndrome only makes the charge more preposterous and barbaric.”
The statement further stated that “it is also extremely disturbing to note that the police allowed a mob to surround the police station and demand that she be handed over.”
The spread of extremism and the authorities’ preference for appeasing charged mobs, rather than taking the correct and lawful course, should make those in power as well as other political forces take serious note. It is deplorable that the country’s political leadership refrains from speaking out against extremism and the injustices towards non-Muslims.
The HRCP called upon the authorities to “immediately release” the girl and provide foolproof protection to her family and the “frightened Christian community” in the area.
COMMENTS (29)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1730379446-0/WhatsApp-Image-2024-10-31-at-17-56-13-(1)1730379446-0-270x192.webp "european aviation safety agency lifts ban on pia khawaja asif")
Shutup HRCP, your mother USA has spoken about it already
According to Islamic law extremist can't punished her, she is 11 old and she has;t reached to age of maturity.it is pure stupidity to give punishment to this 11 old girls,i am sure this is fake story,because these type of stories are comman in Pakistan.look Islam teach us dint kill human being.Every body have seen noorani qaida pages in dirty drain in cites.AND news papers also giving quranic verses in news papers i am sure every body have seen these news papers pages in dirty drain in street,There for govt must show the good gesture for this 11 old girls
It is pure and simple stupidity nobody in the illiteratistan care what paper you burn be it Bible, Torah, Koran or any other paper except in fasadistan? Are we so insecure that a few arabic words on paper will cause us to want to burn a child alive? Nobody has seen God, Heaven or Hell so why all the fuss? What anybody does in their homes should be the matter between that person and their creator. Pakistan has become a joke as a society where poor minorities are being treated worse then animals and our government is coward and impotent. It is their responsibility to safeguard their lives and PPP has the majority it should repel zia 's criminal laws.
I have a doubt. If I dispose of some unwanted paper and other garbage and if the paper has some thing printed in a foreign language which I cannot read or comprehend and if by chance it happens to be Arabic and a Quranic verse then have I committed blasphemy?
I thank Gods of all religions that I am not born in Pakistan. What a great escape.
@ufaquarian The Dark Knight Massacre was labeled a terrorist act committed by a lone gunman -- the only person who claims he is mentally ill is the perpetrators lawyer. Religion has nothing to do with it.
Forget the condemnation, DROP THE CHARGES AND RELEASE THE GIRL! This is so disgraceful! I cant believe that human beings can act like this! The girl has got downs syndrome AND even if she didn't, she is 11 years old, so she is under the age of maturity under Islam. Didn't the police or the people who reported/arrested this girl not think about this?? Didn't they stop to think that they where torturing a vulnerable young girl?? All the people involved with the despicable act should be charged with torture, not like that is going to happen in Pakistan!
@ammar - quite true but lets not blame all non muslims for this. Case in point is the theater shooting during "Dark Knight Rises" , the guy was labelled as mentally ill had it been muslim he would have been a terrorist for sure.
non muslims generally paint their extremist elements as insane.this is their diplomatic way of denial.
@jibran: Mine didn't mention burma or syria. Instead he roundly condemned the shia killings
@Wilson - Pakistan government hasnt accused her yet. Also what does that has to do with sanctions.
I believe the girl should be coached and advised that her action was not correct and set her free. the neighbors etc who love to form mob should also get a life and spare the poor child.
The Imam of my Eid sermon talked about Burma, Syria and conveniently forgot about the Pakistanis, being butchered by Pakistani blood sucking extremists. A few days ago there were crimes against shias. Ahmadis are being targeted on a daily basis. Now this Christian girl. Hindus are already migrating to save their honor. Suddenly, my Imam sounded hypocrite and partner in crime to me. I couldn't take more of his crap, and walked out.
This calls for severe sanctions against Pakistan if the girl is not immediately released and compensated.
Ignorance and bigotry have doomed this nation. Those that choose to remain silent and do nothing will repent when they are overwhelmed into subjugation by these same barbarians. Wake up and fight this intolerance.
If its proven then she must be punished as per law of the land. Our liberal extremists finnd opportunity in such issues but fact is that coming of under privileged class doesn't give anyone licence to break law.
HRCP there in this Pakistan lives a community called Shia also! Does your tongues halts commenting on those killing ?
Stop this barbarism.
Absolutely disgusting...a new low for Pakistan...
Would she be treated in the same manner and thrown in the jail if she was a MUSLIM?
Look according to Islamic Law you can't punish this girl because she is only 11 and hasn't reached the age of maturity. What really bugs me is 1. Irresponsibility on behalf of her parents, 2. The reaction of "grown ups" towards an 11 year old girl and 3. the amount of "Pakistan" and "Islamic" bashing that's happening in these newspapers. Remember Islam teaches us to respect other religions, if so called Muslims can't follow this then its certainly not Islam's fault!!. Other religions should also show us respect, starting with not burning our most sacred book!.
welcome to the stone age, this is Pakistan.
The government has been weakened by judiciary. opposition ,media and BEUROCRACY PPP doesn't have a majority of its. ONLY A STRONG ELECTED GOVERNMENT CAN TACKLE THIS ABISE OF BLASPHEMY LAW AND STAND UPTO BACKLASH FROM MULLAS
"The spread of extremism and the authorities’ preference for appeasing charged mobs, rather than taking the correct and lawful course, should make those in power as well as other political forces take serious note. It is deplorable that the country’s political leadership refrains from speaking out against extremism and the injustices towards non-Muslims."
Indeed very deplorable conditions for the minorities (should we even use this word). We immediately need to take drastic measures to control this menace of intolerance and extremism. Else we will soon be at the receiving end made like untouchables of the world and totally isolated from the world community. The choice is ours.
when did Norani qaeda became equal to holy book. would they now kill people for burning social studies books or urdu grammer book. what is happening to our people.
Please release the little girl, she is just too young to get punished.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/19/pakistan-christian-tensions-quran-burning-allegations
Barbarians indeed !!