Pakistan: Muslims demand that 11-year-old Christian girl with Down's syndrome be punished for blasphemy

Merciless. "Pakistani Muslims: Disabled 11 yr-old Christian should be punished," by Jibran Khan for Asia News, August 24 (thanks to Block Ness):

Islamabad (AsiaNews) - If guilty of blasphemy, the child should be punished according to the laws of the country. This is a widespread view among Muslims in Pakistan, whether laymen or religious leaders, regarding the tragedy of an 11 year old Christian girl who is disabled and was recently charged under the "black law". To date the child is being detained under lock and key in a reform school - pending a full hearing for release on bail - for desecrating a few pages of a book that conatined [sic] verses from the Koran (see AsiaNews 19/08/2012 An 11-year-old disabled Christian girl arrested for blasphemy, 300 families flee). Interviewed by AsiaNews on the issue scholar Mehmood Ahmed Khan, a member of the Islamic Ideology Council (IIc), said that "Rimsha is a minor, but if she is mentally stable and committed the crime, child or not she should be punished." He adds, "no one can be allowed to desecrate the Koran."
Several human rights organizations, including the Masihi Foundation and Life for All, along with the Catholic Church of Pakistan have announced a demonstration tomorrow in Lahore on August 25, demanding the release of Rimsha Masih - this is the name of the girl, arrested on blasphemy charges - and who faces up to life in prison. The incident occurred on August 17 in Umara Jaffar, G-12 Islamabad, where the family of the minor live. In response, a mob of local Muslims - egged on by the imams - attacked the Christian community, forcing hundreds of families to flee.

Bishop Rufin Anthony of Islamabad-Rawalpindi has launched a call: "it is time for the entire Christian community to unite and string around the child. Sunday - adds the prelate - our voices will be heard in support thereof." Meanwhile, the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) has appointed parliamentarian Tahir Naveed Chaudhry lawyer to Rimsha. He assures us that "we will defend the rights of the oppressed" and has prepared "a panel of experts to plead the case." It is a "delicate matter," says the lawyer, but he is optimistic and promises "good news soon."

However, sources say that the APMA lawyer was not allowed meet the child in prison. Now the goal is to get her out of jail and put it in a safe place, since the vast majority of blasphemy deaths are the result of extra-judicial killings, even in prison under the gaze of guards (see AsiaNews 17/09 / 2009 Punjab: young Christian man accused of blasphemy killed in prison). The Christian NGO World Vision in Progress has filed an appeal for bail, which will be discussed on 28 August.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Christian families forced to flee in fear of extremist attacks, accuse the government of neglect and disinterest, despite government proclamations in recent days that ensured comfort and help. Islamabad has announced the distribution of food aid, but so far "has not done anything," says a witness. There is a climate of "insecurity" among the people and they do not "trust to return to their homes." Meanwhile, the police have opened an investigation against 150 people suspected of the assault on the Christian Quarter of the capital when word got out of the blasphemy case.

Among the Muslims of Islamabad feelings toward the religious minority are mixed: some are willing to "accept" the return of the Christians in their homes, others do not. But on one point I agree the faithful who flock to mosques around the capital: if the girl is guilty, "to be punished according to law." No discounts or extenuating circumstances.

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11 Comments

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miriam rove | August 24, 2012 10:36 AM | Reply

the muslims themselves are like an 11 year old.
M

sean | August 24, 2012 10:42 AM | Reply

So they believe that a mentally handicapped child is capable of fatally damaging Islam. This shows the complete insecurity of their 'faith'.

Are they finally subconsciously realising that they, and their ancestors, have been conned and had their lives ruined by the biggest scam artist of all time?

Stand fast in the liberty | August 24, 2012 10:51 AM | Reply

When will it be time to punish allah for the desecration of the koran? After all, you leave a book long enough, it rots. Therefore, the one who supposedly created everything has been guilty of creating the second law of thermodynamics. Things, over time, disintegrate. Therefore, allah is guilty of desecrating the koran.

Didn't any mohammedan ever consider this?

SteveA55 replied to comment from Stand fast in the liberty | August 24, 2012 11:31 AM | Reply

Yes, quite right. If only logic and reason were respected in islam then this might make some muslims stop and think.

Since mo and allah can't be blamed for anything they are actually guilty of, scapegoats have to be blamed instead.

Also if kufr are also destroying korans, then allah is responsible again, since our eyes have been blinded to islam by allah himself. Sorry, I forgot the reference for that; anyone out there?

Lastly, allah is guilty of desecrating our ordinary human conscience and decency with a hateful book, full of calls to immorality and war.

The only solution: to proscribe islam in all civilized society.

Then everywhere else as well.

dumbledoresarmy | August 24, 2012 3:17 PM | Reply

I have sent the two 'Asia News' links recounting this case, to my parish priest, requesting that we add Rimsha to our prayers this Sunday and subsequently; and *also* stating that this is why I am encouraging everyone in the parish to sign the 'Proclaim Freedom' Barnabas Fund petition which is to be presented to the Australian Parliament at the end of this year or early next year, demanding that our government apply some serious pressure to countries like Pakistan re. their egregious abuse of the human rights of Christians and of other minorities.

Everyone here who is a Christian, please do likewise: tell Rimsha's story to your parish.

If you are a Catholic, this is especially important: Rimsha is one of your own, a Catholic Christian. Catholics worldwide should be rising up in grief and anger, and praying like blazes as well. Hear Rimsha's own Bishop calling for help:

'Bishop Rufin Anthony of Islamabad-Rawalpindi has launched a call: "it is time for the entire Christian community to unite and string around the child. Sunday - adds the prelate - our voices will be heard in support thereof."'

Send the story to your Bishop and Archbishop and ask them to publicly support their brother Bishop in Islamabad-Rawalpindi as he seeks to defend his little lamb.

Everyone, as we share Rimsha's story in our church family and/ or in our social circle, be sure to point out, over and over, that the iniquitous 'blasphemy law' in Pakistan is straight down-the-line orthodox Islamic sharia: people who 'insult Islam' in any way at all, are supposed to be killed.

If you're in the UK, you have a further option for action: you can support the British Pakistani Christian Association by signing their petition calling for an end to foreign aid to Pakistan 'until they can show better performance in human rights'.

Here's an account of the protest that they held in the UK outside the Pakistani High Commission:

http://britishpakistanichristian.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/bpca-free-asia-bibi-concert-and-protest.html

The protest was also attended by a Hindu representative:

"Ranbir Singh from the Hindu Human Rights Groups spoke of the situation facing Hindus and other minorities in Pakistan!"

They had a 'Free Asia Bibi' song as well; Asia Bibi being a Pakistani Christian mother in her late forties - around my age - who is languishing in prison because of a trumped-up 'blasphemy!' charge made against her by a bunch of malicious Muslimahs who couldn't stand the fact that she said No to their da'wa and bullying.

11B40 | August 24, 2012 7:16 PM | Reply

Greetings:

A couple of evenings ago, I saw a report about this incident on an Al-Jezeera news program. Mentioned it that report was that it was the nephew of the Christian family's landlord who initially reported the incident.

One of my pet theories about these desecration/blasphemy scenarios it that many of them seem to involve some kind of economic issue. Sometimes it is mentioned, but many more times not. And even when it is mentioned in passing, it never seems to be examined in any depth.

pulsar182 | August 24, 2012 11:46 PM | Reply

Speaking of Pakistan's blasphemy law abuse...has anyone heard anything of Aishsa Bibi?....

Bernard | August 25, 2012 12:32 AM | Reply

Where are the Pakistani liberals and intellectuals on this case. Your silence is deafening. All it takes for evil to persist is for good men to do nothing. Meanwhile, the rest of the world, if this child with Downs Syndrome is punished, will look on the vast majority of Pakistani nationals as nothing more than depraved animals.

dumbledoresarmy replied to comment from pulsar182 | August 25, 2012 4:18 AM | Reply

pulsar

Asia Bibi is still alive and still in prison. 'Barnabas Fund' are helping provide for her family and they and a couple of other Christian NGOs are doing their best to help her and lobby on her behalf.

Docs357 | August 25, 2012 5:03 AM | Reply

Yes, Sir more proof of the religion peace. I find it hard to comprehend such stupidity and the depth of hate for another human being.

Islam is the Ultimate Truth | August 28, 2012 9:42 PM | Reply

If u ask it of me there is no blasphemy charges for a disabled person in Islam even if a 32 years old mentally disabled damage Our Holy Koran he can't be punished..never heard of an innocent immature girl punished for blasphemy..trust me Islam never second such nonsense.all the comments above are plain bullshits and sterotypical nothing but empty yells.neither Allah nor Muhammad are scam experts.His honour is invincible. sinners like us cant spoil his high rank as a respectable last prophet by using empty words.Islam has nothing to do with mentally sick common muslims..none of them know true Islam inspite of the fact that they are muslims.I LOVE ISLAM,ALLAH AND HOLY MUHAMMAD(P.B.U.H)

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