![minority rights amnesty urges pakistan to reform blasphemy laws minority rights amnesty urges pakistan to reform blasphemy laws](https://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/425061-Amn-1345676463.jpg)
The arrest of an 11-year-old Christian girl on charges of blasphemy has triggered international outrage, and calls for Pakistan to reform its controversial blasphemy laws.
Amnesty International led the charge on this count, urging Pakistan to reform its blasphemy laws and protect Rimsha Masih, an 11-year-old reported to have Down Syndrome, who was arrested for allegedly burning pages inscribed with verses from the Holy Quran. She was taken into custody in a low-income area of Islamabad on Thursday after a furious mob 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.
Truscott welcomed President Asif Ali Zardari’s move seeking an explanation for the arrest, 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.”
“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.
HRCP statement
Joining Amnesty International in its condemnation was the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). A statement released by the HRCP read: “The fact that the girl is a juvenile and suffers from Down’s Syndrome only makes the charge more preposterous and barbaric. 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 statement expressed concern over the country’s political leadership being unwilling to speak out against extremism and injustices towards non-Muslims. The authorities should immediately release the girl, it added.
Evacuation
Meanwhile, hundreds of Christians in Mehrabadi village (where the incident took place), fearing a backlash, have vacated their houses since the incident on the advice of the Islamabad Police.
“I had asked them to leave for a safe place, otherwise they might have been burnt alive in their houses,” SHO Qasim Niazi of Ramna police station admitted when contacted by The Express Tribune.
One of the residents of the area requesting anonymity contacted The Express Tribune by phone and disclosed that the landlords of Mehrabadi gathered in the main mosque after prayers on Wednesday on the call of one Malik Munsif Dad, who told the landlords that their Christian tenants should be forced to leave.
“I opposed this decision, but it was very difficult for me to swim against the water because they are in a majority,” said the source. Some 25 Christian families returned to their houses in the village at their own risk with the help of locals – but the majority remains reluctant to go back and are waiting for assurances from the administration and the police of their safety. “We can go back but what if we’re attacked again after a few days?” questioned Surriya, who is living with her five children in her cousin’s house in Islamabad’s G-7 sector.
A number of displaced families now living in different sectors of the capital told The Express Tribune that they ran from their homes when they heard the announcement from the loudspeakers on a nearby mosque. They quoted a cleric as saying ‘All you chooras (a derogatory term for a South Asian Christians) must leave here immediately or we will pour petrol on you and burn you alive …You sweepers are only deserving of such treatment.’
A close aide of Dr Paul Bhatti, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interfaith Harmony, told The Express Tribune that Islamabad Police chief Bani Amin Khan was not ready to give assurances in cases where Christian families have returned to their homes. The source also revealed that Rimsha’s family was in the protective custody of the Islamabad IG. Dr Bhatti could not be approached as he has left for Rome where he is likely to address a press conference on the issue.
The only witness of the alleged incident of blasphemy committed by Rimsha is reported to have had possible ulterior motives. Hammad, 19, is a close relative of the owner of the rented house where Rimsha’s family resided. Nida Nazir, a representative of the local Christian population, shared her concern about the credibility of the eyewitness. She said that Hammad was an addict and wanted to have affair with Rimsha’s elder sister.
Hammad and the local cleric who made the announcement are unwilling to talk to the media about the authenticity of the incident.
Many of the evacuees said that local shopkeepers have boycotted the Christian community and refuse to sell them goods.
(Read: Height of absurdity)
(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2012.
COMMENTS (12)
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Deliberately,some quarters exaggerated the facts attributed to the incident and provoked the people,notwithstanding the fact that she is under police custody and investigation is going on.
Minorities in Pakistan has constitutional rights,they deserve safety under the law.
Recent incident has different stories thereunder so needs fair and transparent investigation by a special team consisting on undisputed high profile personalities.
The evidences has been collected till today,she is proved victim of down syndrome and mentally imbalanced.
As for as Amnesty International's demand is concern for amendment in the Blasphemy law is not acceptable,impossible to the last extend .
Thing is, she's suffering from down's syndrome n she is 11, CONCERNED ULLMA KARAMS(who claimed to burn the house if her parents dont vacate their house) ,THINK FROM HEAD NOT FROM BEARD,Don't stain the integrity of Islam,EVERY THING HAS TO DO WITH INTENSIONS,plz take into account that she's mentally retarted do have mercy on her.
My sympathies are with rimshah, see maulvis how can an 11year girl intentionally commit such a big sin. Don't challenge the innocence of 11 year girl.not only Rimshah But also many a ahmadies became a victom of blasphemy law becoz they recited some verses of holy quran ,according to blasphemy law and Clause 295C, Being ahmadi you cannot say " LA ILLAHA ILLALAH HO MUHAMMAD DUR RASULLULAH" or being ahmadi if u caught while reciting Holy Quran,you're liable to punishment for at least 3 years,It was not practise of HOLY PROPHET HAZRAT MUHAMMAD (S.A.W).There is utmost need to reform blasphemy laws. there is also need to reform the contitution which criminalized the worship of ahmadis in Pakistan
Dear President Zardari and the PPP,
Kudos for taking swift notice of this case. But please take steps to reform and ideally repeal the Blasphemy law. If you do this I will vote PPP in the election and become a PPP jiyala for life even though I find PPP's governance reprehensible otherwise.
The liberalism and forward-thinking of PPP and the fact that it is the only such party is it's only saving grace, but it is only worth something if it is turned into serious action once in a while.
Regards, Your Potential Jiyala
This is complete madness. How can you even arrest a juvenile? How can you accuse a person with a mental disability? How about giving the death sentence to terrorists! Govt of Pakistan, Judges and members of the public get your priorities straight and deal with the real issues instead of killing innocent children! I would like to see capital punishment introduced here and sentences given to real offenders!
Release the girl and reform controversial blasphemy laws as soon as possible.
Remove the blasphemy laws completely. it was implemented by ZIA courtesy of saudia arabia to make sure he is getting support from extreme mullahs. it is also kind of law that indict minorities and we have witnessed that time & time again how cruel it can be for everyone.
No reformation, only abrogation.
These laws are illegal on the first place as they were created on the political bribe basis when pressure mounted from Saudi Arabia to declare Ahmadis as not Muslims. Latter Zia added several amendments to score political points from among the fanatic Mullahs and to please his own ego against Ahmadiyya. The whole constitution is based on contradictions and every power hungry raped it over and over again and now is the turn of our CJ and his bunch PCO Judges that they do whatever they please to in the name of Islam. Cash bribe was used by Bhutto to secure votes and got it passed. Bribe itself is a crime punishable by prison and or fine and this constitution is based on crime by itself. A major headache in Pakistan is the culture of Mullah-ism that is based on blasphemy laws and these fanatics use it to do their business with impunity and settle scores. It is high time to revisit the entire constitution and remove all the contradictions and additions created after its first approval.
Including Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's August 11, 1947 speech in the Constitution of Pakistan before its preamble will provide the legal basis and moral foundation for repealing the blasphemy laws and removing the Objectives Resolution from the constitution. The pariament must act before PTI destroys the current two-thirds liberal majority.
The whole incident is shocking beyond words. Unimaginable cruelty and barbarity. The Taliban mindset has taken over the country and I am ashamed to be a Pakistani. Blasphemy laws must be amended and the cleric who dared use a mosque to heap abuse on a defenceless community must be punished. These mullahs are now reaching the heights of arrogance. It is the mullahs who are committing blasphemy by bringing shame onto a beautiful religion. The cry of the oppressed goes straight to Allah SWT. These mullahs and their supporters should beware.