“This case is outrageous and should refocus the world’s attention on the abuse of blasphemy laws around the globe,” said Human Rights First’s Joelle Fiss.
“President Asif Ali Zardari has called for an investigation into the case, but his words are not enough. He must call for calm and an end to the mob violence and intimidation this young girl and her family now face. Pakistani authorities must also protect her rights as she awaits her fate in an Islamabad jail. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Pakistan’s blasphemy laws trigger violence and be applied arbitrarily. It’s time for lawmakers to act.”
The girl was sent to juvenile jail on judicial remand and police, according to sources, have not allowed lawyers or civil society representatives to visit the girl.
Though President Asif Ali Zardari has asked for an investigation on this case, the girl has faced mob violence from angry protesters and Pakistani police have confirmed that she will be detained for 14 days while the case is investigated.
COMMENTS (30)
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r u serious Blasphemy law on 11 year old kid... ur laws now have started on kids...she hardly knows wht her Religion means...
although i believe that this is something completely wrong, but US interference in this matter is disturbing to me, they should have even thought about human rights before detaining innocent Muslims, or burning the Holy Quran or before being racist and hard on Muslims, why dont they ever consider their human rights code before their own acts????
@jibran: The pity is that no one is Muslim in this land of Pakistan. Everyone considers their selves Muslim and others as kafirs and that makes all of them non Muslim otherwise Ahmadis are Muslims but in Pakistan and the 'creators of Islam' Saudis, they are not. This is a political gain not a religious one as only God knows who is what? Shias are very much Muslims but they are slaughtered on the basis of kafir-Muslim and this minority is suffering the same as other minorities if not more.
@Asher Rafiq: Imran khan is the only leader who have condemned this you can see on www.Insaf.pk site plus his twiter and facebook. Do you think Imran khan is a Prime Minsiter???. Well he is not he can only protest and ask for release of little poor Girl.
Where were all these Fake Human Rights organisation for the last 3 months when in Burma Budist were doing Massacre of Muslims. They killed over 100,000 Muslims and burned there bodies. Shame on all world Human Rights organisations.
Human Friends International strongly condemns the arrest and false accusation of Blasphemy law against an 11 years old, Ramsha. No one does any act of Blasphemy, religious minorities of Pakistan respect all religions. Few people are misusing this law to settle their personal disputes.
@Riz Khan: For you're kind information, Shia are muslims too.
@Abdullah: Are you justifying the detention of an 11 year old because the US government violates other peoples rights?
If you can ever figure out the difference perhaps there is hope for you!
The case pertains to a 11 year old girl and abuse of law. I could not understand why Cross sign has been highlighted in the picture placed on the top of the page. It gives an impression of a tilt on the part of Human Rights Commission and it mares the humanitarian perspective of the Commission.
Islamist have ruined our country......shame
@Pakistanian: 100% agreed. All political parties want power thats it. None of the patry have manifesto for the protection of minorities rights. They have salogans will change Pakistan in 90 days. My foot. I am ashamed to call them leaders, especially IK/PTI
@Abdullah . Two wrongs don't make it right. This is one of biggest problem in Pakistan and Pakistanis , when you point them towards something wrong, instead of correcting it they try to find a justification or point to something else which is wrong.
I am pakistani but have given up hopes unfortunately , The Majority muslims will first kill all minorities Ahmadis, Shias, Hindus , Christians etc , and once they are done, they will realize they don't even tolerate their fellow Muslim sects and will start killing each others. It is news like this which tell me there is no hope, other than getting a Kamal Ataturk for Pakistan... you know what I mean !
@Kafir: Absolutely wrong, these laws are against Islamic teachings and were established against Ahmadis to throw some bone in the mouths of fanatic Mullahs by Bhutto and were purely political. Listen to Dr. Mubashar Hassan's (one of the pioneers of Pakistani Constitution) TV interview concerning constitutional 'haira phery'. Bhutto even bribed with cash money to one politician to get his vote and that nullifies the entire constitution as creation via crime (bribe).
@Abdullah: What you mentioned, Human Rights First has already been doing a lot for years just ask any prominent Muslim organization in the USA. Before commenting you should have searched this organization's efforts in closing Guantanamo and against water boarding.
These laws were made to torcher and harm Ahmadiyya Community but has been expanded by our highly biased, brutal, uncivilized without any character Mullahs that use them for their 'business' to incite people in the name of Islam against minorities. A couple of days ago these banned Islamic organization Mullahs forced police to desecrate tomb stones in an Ahmadi graveyard and flagrantly insulted and destroyed Quranic verses!!!
I will only be happy when i see any Mullah Organization condemning this brutal, inhuman, barbarous act ! The rest do not matter. Also when the gutless, power hungary, money loving Members of Parliament pick up the courage to amend the laws.
Existence of blasphemy laws may be pro Islam but its anti humanity.
Pakistan's current blasphemy law MUST apply ONLY to Muslims. . Looking at the Blasphemy Law and recent events, why hasn't even one person been arrested yet for various crimes against Ahmedis, Hindus and Christians? They could easily be booked under the following sections of the Blasphemy Law. . § 295. Injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class. . § 295-A. Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting Its religion or religious beliefs. . § 296. Disturbing religious assembly. . § 297. Trespassing on burial places, etc. . § 298. Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings . § 298-A. Use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of holy personages. . § 298-B. Misuse of epithets, descriptions and titles, etc., reserved for certain holy personages or places.
They just want to remove Blasphemy Law and that's all.
Funny how No one from the politicians to the Liberals to the the Army and the ruling elites ever come and criticise this MAN MADE LAW in Pakistan - it seems like Pakistanis are the only saviour of the religion!!!!! by beating up minority by intimidation, settling property and personal enmity through blamsphemy laws! sad ......
The Zardari government passed the Contempt of Court law in less than day. Could it also repeal the draconian blasphemy laws in two days?
We live in times of Jahilia ...
This is an incident engineered to bring disgrace to religion and a double disgrace to the governments gutless policy of evading doing what must be done and that is amend this law, so it is not abused.
Greatness does not get hurt of any conscious or unconscious expression. Laws pertaining to blasphemy- the world over needs to be reviewed. Harassing the girl is disliked.
How about Human Rights First focus on Guentanamo, water boarding, Abu Gharaib, rendition, drones etc etc
The funniest thing in the world is when US so called Human Rights organizations talks about Human Rights
Just set her free already.
The world is waiting.
No matter what the world opinion is on the draconian Blasphemy law, It is very difficult to repeal as the govt in power is week, corrupt and coward. The parliamentarians have no conscience. Extremists and terrorists in guise of Mullah are frightening and threatening of dire consequences. Brutal murder of Salman Taseer is an example. Only sustained pressure from civilized world on Pakistan's Civil and Military leadership might yield better results.
president takes notice and the girl is still in jail. how ironic.