Cold Christmas awaits Christians in Rimsha's neighbourhood
Rimsha Masih spent three weeks on remand after being arrested on August 16, accused of burning papers printed with verses from the Quran, in a case that drew worldwide condemnation.
She could have been jailed for life, but the Islamabad High Court threw out the case against her in September.
Rimsha and her family will spend Christmas as they have spent the last four months - in hiding, fearing for their lives.
Her home stands empty and the festive season promises little cheer in the run-down area of Mehrabad, a warren of filthy, unpaved streets winding between tiny single-storey breezeblock houses on the edge of Islamabad.
Christmas traditionally means new clothes, music and celebrations, but locals say things have become much more difficult since the Rimsha case.
Christian children play outside their homes in the run-down area of Mehrabad on the outskirts of Islamabad on December 14, 2012. PHOTO: AFP
A patch of waste ground, where children play and goats nose through piles of rubbish, should be home to a Christmas tree by now. But not anymore.
"A day or two ago we were discussing how to decorate a tree when some young Muslim men came and mocked us, saying 'You are talking about it but you will not dare put it up,'" Amjad Shehzad, a housepainter, told AFP.
"Normally at Christmas we put up stars on our houses, but this year we will not be able to do this either," he added.
Christians, at about 2% of Pakistan’s population, are among the country’s most marginalised citizens. Many are impoverished and trapped in dirty, menial jobs.
"We are scared. We are frightened. We cannot sit together, we cannot speak loudly, we cannot celebrate openly. We have threats," said Ashraf Masih, a sweeper and a father of nine, in his unheated two-room house.
"If we sit together and talk, all of a sudden the Muslim owner of the house will come and ask 'Why are you here, what are you talking about?'"
(L to R) Aslam Masih, Ashraf Masih, Amjad Shehzad speak during an interview with AFP in the run-down area of Mehrabad on the outskirts of Islamabad. December 14, 2012. PHOTO: AFP
Drums and a lectern are piled up in a corner - rescued from a house that had been used as a makeshift church until the neighbours complained about the noise and the landlord intervened.
He built a concrete wall across the inside of the building dividing it into two homes.
Gold paper crosses and a picture of Jesus, arms outstretched in supplication, still adorn one wall.
"Christmas is coming and we are upset. What will we do on Christmas? Every year we used to celebrate it here but now we have no church to celebrate in the area," said Aslam Masih, a 37-year-old gardener and father of three.
His wife Kalsoom Aslam said money was also a worry.
"The atmosphere is not good and our church is closed," she said.
"Either we pay the rent or we make preparations for Christmas."
Christians stand outside their homes in the run-down area of Mehrabad on the outskirts of Islamabad. December 14, 2012. PHOTO: AFP
Many of Mehrabad's 400 or so Christian families fled when Rimsha was arrested, fearing for their safety.
In 2009, in the central town of Gojra, a mob burnt more than 70 Christian houses, killing seven, after a rumour that a page from the Quran had been desecrated during a wedding.
But Aslam Masih says most have since returned to Mehrabad.
"We are back in our houses, though some Christians have been shifted to (the neighbourhood of) H-9/2 in a graveyard, where they have some makeshift arrangement living in tents."
Hammad Malik, the man who accused Rimsha, still believes he did the right thing, but claims he would guarantee the family's safety should they return.
"Their house is still waiting for them... I will give them written assurance that if somebody raises a finger against them, I will protect them," he said.
"I don't know whether she did it on purpose or it was just an accident, but it was my duty to save these Quranic pages, I did that and I am not ashamed of it."
COMMENTS (2)
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I think the plight of minorities in Pakistan is blown out of proportions at times. We should try to understand that the poor or the weak, continue to suffer everywhere in the world regardless of falling in the category of minorities. Christians or Hindus in Pakistan, who are holding reasonably good positions in different working sectors of Pakistan, enjoy the same level of respect in the society though exceptions are always there. Hence we should work for the uplift of the overall deprived sections of the society and try to reduce the growing gap between the rich and the poor.
Minorities are otherwise 3rd rated citizens in land of pure. Salute to ET and other print media raising voices for minority rights. In near future no light at the end of the tunnel. So the minorities will keep on suffering. Sad and unfortunate part of life.