Turn in the tide

With the situation being as bad as it is in our country, it is even more unfortunate to see the terrible evil in our midst. The case of Rimsha Masih, the minor girl suffering from Down’s syndrome, accused of having committed blasphemy in the Mehrabad suburb of Islamabad, is one such example. The girl is in jail today because she was accused of burning pages that contained verses of the Holy Quran. Christians in the area live in a constant state of fear with hundreds of families having fled. Now, we hear that Rimsha was almost definitely framed. The evidence, consisting of burnt pages with Quranic verses inscribed on them, was allegedly planted on the girl by the local mosque cleric Khalid Jadoon Chishti, apparently because he disliked Christians. It is hard to imagine hatred so strong that it could lead to such malicious victimisation of a mentally-challenged child, completely unable to defend herself.

Chishti has now been arrested for blasphemy himself. Perhaps, as this case turns on its head, an important precedent will be set. Other elements of good have also been seen, pushing away at least some of the clouds of evil. Testimony against Chishti came from another man of religion, who gave Quranic lessons to children in the same area. His demonstration of morality and courage, seen so rarely in cases of blasphemy — given the frenzy and hysteria quickly whipped up around them — has shed new light on the plight of the accused. Perhaps, the brave example he has set will persuade others to act according to their conscience when other similar cases of blasphemy emerge.

As hearings continue in the matter, we also see right before us a demonstration of just how the blasphemy law is misused in the country. Although her bail plea has been adjourned to September 7, it is hoped that Rimsha may soon be released from police custody. Meanwhile, we must hope that Chishti is duly punished under the law for his malicious deed. This may in fact go some way in preventing others from acting in a similar manner, and perhaps, also build opinion against a law that has been misused again and again to victimise people who are weak, often over the most petty issues or prejudices created by decades of intolerance.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2012.