The girl, Rimsha, was arrested for allegedly burning a Noorani Quaida, a booklet used to familiarise children with Arabic as written in the Quran.
The lawyer, Tahir Naveed Chaudhry, said that the report by a medical board investigating the age and mental state of the girl determined she was between 13 and 14.
He said that this suggested that Pakistan’s juvenile court system will hear Rimsha’s case, which is generally more lenient toward defendants.
The lawyer revealed that the medical board’s report determined that her mental state did not correspond with her age. However, he said that it was “not clear whether that meant she was mentally impaired.”
COMMENTS (37)
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Kevin - I hope she stays safe too, but realistically, the only way she can be safe is for her to and her family to leave Pakistan.
That mob that beat her were calling for her death. They wanted to BURN HER ALIVE. It is so saddening to think that there are so many people in this society that actually want to murder a child for burning the page of some book. She's a CHILD for crying out loud. Children do stupid things. It's not like she hurt anyone. Plus, if she's ILLITERATE, how the heck would she have even known what she was burning? It wasn't even a page of the Qur'an, it was a page from a book used to teach the Qur'an.
Can you imagine how heartless, soulless, devoid of empathy and caring, and full of hate an adult must be to want to burn a child alive just for burning the page of a book? I fear for the future of Pakistan. It makes me SICK to know there are so many people like that in Pakistan.
@Shamy: u doesn't make sense
People here are forgetting that the blasphemy law is not shariah and in fact it was imposed by general zia. Have we not heard of the story of the people of taif and the holy prophet? There were so many who oppressed upon him but even when he commanded the largest armies in arabia he only forgave those people. If he forgave them then who are we to punish this girl?
Release this young girl and stop making islam look evil in the eyes of the world. Pakistan muslims you are shaming the ummah. Go and protest for her release.
Nayla I am scared now. You're possibly right. Ours is the society full of people with no sense of reasoning and logic. I am a muslim. I wish she stays safe from those ignorants.
Kill the girl once out of prison and for sure virgins they meet in heaven will be happy to offer them their services. These sick people are spoiling the name of Isalam. Pakistani brothers please speak up.
Just kill the baby inside prison. It is giving Pakistan a bad name. We are Muslim and do not have these oppressive laws, it is a propaganda! There is no Blasphemy law and none in prison!
Why this innocent girl will receive the wrath of clerics.Some month ago a person arrested for blasphemy has been forced out from custody by fanatics and beaten to death.We all pray to Allah this is not happened with the girl this time
@Nand: The whole world is also watching U.S Drones killing innocent civilians..
@Bangash:
I do not think Ghauri and Ghaznvi were too bothered about books. I wonder if they were even literate.
Continue this comment colum open till the black law is intact ,Plz.
Spare the kids plz. Everyone is reading this issue in the world. That's all we have to share?
All these tests are just further humiliating and traumatizing her. Release her already and arrest the imam for inciting hate.
If 13 or 14 years girl had sense to pass religious differences and atrocities by burning Noorani Qaida on fire( Nauzbillah) then it means she is up to the state and isn't child anymore.
Your President, PM and virtually every major leader in Pakistan haven't lifted a finger or made a public speech to defend this child. Shame on Pakistan.
@Omar: Omar Sahib, let us clean under our own MUNGI ( bed) Do we know who slaughtered and BEHEADED our very own Sheas in videos posted around the world?
Can we get a word from the girl herself? Wether she burned the Qaida intentionally or it was un intentional?
Killers kill children and the rogues support them. that is all.
Only enemies of Islam can support this sort of animal behavior. ANYBODY can go and beat a minor girl , try some body higher up
@bangash
remember bamiyan buddha statues which were destroyed by taliban
@Omar: How does comparing things to India make things better in Pakistan? Get a life, Pakistans sole goal isnt to be benchmarked against India. Just because something is happening in India does not justify things in Pakistan.
@Omar This is Pakistan and the girl is Pakistani, go to India if you are so concerned about their issues.
whether she's a minor or adult should be judged based on Islamic law ie Shariah and not secular english common law.
RPEAL THE LAW regarding blashphemy in on strock and don't establish Islam as an out dated religion any more .
@Aryabhat: Talking about minorities, what happened to the Indians that shot dead 2 Muslims on 16th July?? Were they arrested or not??
She is a kid.....must be released ASAP
Thank you so much ET for this information hope it will silent many people.
A mob of adult muslim men attacking and beating up a defenseless child with Down syndrome.Is this what we have made islam into? Is this what we have reduced islam to? beating up mentally ill chidlren,how brave are our mujahideen now.This persecution of non-muslims at the hands of the 97% majority must stop.
Thank you ET for highlighting this case consistantly and neutrally!
Pls continue that till the girl is released and her family is safe! PLEASE!
The whole world is watching you on this.
Its a question of the girl not being a minor. Pakistani nation is a minor as far as ethics are concerned.