Justice served

It is a sad reflection on our country that a person as obviously innocent as Rimsha should still fear for her life.

There will be a temptation to believe that the Islamabad High Court’s dismissal of the FIR against 14-year-old Rimsha Masih represents a victory in the fight against the abuse of the blasphemy laws. If this is a victory then it is a hollow one. Rimsha still remains in hiding and will either have to leave the country or stay incognito for the rest of her life. Once a person has been accused of blasphemy, the greatest threat to them comes not from the law but from the mob. She will never be able to return to her former life because the threat to her will always remain. It is a sad reflection on our country that even a person as obviously innocent as Rimsha should still fear for her life.

The Islamabad High Court’s dismissal of the FIR is also unlikely to be a harbinger of tolerance and good judgment in future blasphemy cases. The evidence in favour of Rimsha was so overwhelming and she herself cut such a pitiful figure that the courts could rule in no other way. So obvious was her innocence that even extremist Islamic groups, who are otherwise very enthusiastic about the blasphemy laws, called for her freedom. One would hope that seeing how unscrupulous people are so willing to make false accusations of blasphemy would show judges that these charges are often framed out of personal vendettas and less faith ought to be put in such testimony in the future.



If a change is to be brought about in how the blasphemy laws are misused, it will have to be political and societal. Our representatives need to use the Rimsha case to push for a reform of the laws. Punishments for those who make false accusations need to be strengthened and an exception has to be carved out for minors who are accused of blasphemy. Above all, we the people need to change. We need to rely on reason and not fall prey to our basest instincts. So far, the state has not executed anybody for blasphemy; all the deaths associated with it have come from enraged mobs. It is this mentality that needs to be tackled and fought.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2012.