Medical report says blasphemy-accused girl not mentally ill: Activist
Christian activist, who met blasphemy accused girl in prison, says she is frightened, traumatised.
ISLAMABAD:
A Christian activist, who met the 11-year-old Christian girl accused of blasphemy, has seen a medical report which states that the girl has no mental illness.
Christian activist Xavier William said he visited Rimsha at a police station where she was first held, and then this week in a prison in the city of Rawalpindi.
Rimsha, a young Christian girl who reportedly has Down’s Syndrome, was accused of burning pages from a children’s religious instruction book containing verses from the Holy Quran.
Rimsha is in a prison where she is being held in solitary confinement for her safety, the activist told Reuters.
"She was frightened and traumatised,” William said.
"She was assaulted and in very bad shape. She had bruises on her face and on her hands," he added, referring to a mob that attacked her after she was accused of blasphemy.
"She is in solitary confinement at Adiala jail because of her safety," said William. "She would not make eye contact. She did not say anything. She did not answer back."
NGO moves bail application
World Vision in Progress Foundation - a non-governmental organisation - moved a bail application before the Islamabad session court on Thursday for an 11-year-old Christian girl arrested on charges of blasphemy.
The hearing for the case is scheduled to begin on August 28.
Rimsha’s case has prompted concern from Western governments andanger from rights groups, who say the blasphemy law is abused in personal disputes and should be reformed.
President Asif Ali Zardari also took notice of the incident and sought a detailed report from interior ministry.
The incident has sent a chill wind of fear through the 500 Christian families who live in Mehrabad, a poor suburb of Islamabad where Rimsha lives.
A Christian activist, who met the 11-year-old Christian girl accused of blasphemy, has seen a medical report which states that the girl has no mental illness.
Christian activist Xavier William said he visited Rimsha at a police station where she was first held, and then this week in a prison in the city of Rawalpindi.
Rimsha, a young Christian girl who reportedly has Down’s Syndrome, was accused of burning pages from a children’s religious instruction book containing verses from the Holy Quran.
Rimsha is in a prison where she is being held in solitary confinement for her safety, the activist told Reuters.
"She was frightened and traumatised,” William said.
"She was assaulted and in very bad shape. She had bruises on her face and on her hands," he added, referring to a mob that attacked her after she was accused of blasphemy.
"She is in solitary confinement at Adiala jail because of her safety," said William. "She would not make eye contact. She did not say anything. She did not answer back."
NGO moves bail application
World Vision in Progress Foundation - a non-governmental organisation - moved a bail application before the Islamabad session court on Thursday for an 11-year-old Christian girl arrested on charges of blasphemy.
The hearing for the case is scheduled to begin on August 28.
Rimsha’s case has prompted concern from Western governments andanger from rights groups, who say the blasphemy law is abused in personal disputes and should be reformed.
President Asif Ali Zardari also took notice of the incident and sought a detailed report from interior ministry.
The incident has sent a chill wind of fear through the 500 Christian families who live in Mehrabad, a poor suburb of Islamabad where Rimsha lives.