They've known for months that a Muslim cleric planted evidence on her. Will that cleric be prosecuted for blasphemy for burning pages of the Qur'an? Not likely.
"Pakistan drops Christian girl blasphemy case," from France24, November 20 (thanks to Blazing Cat Fur):
A Pakistani court dismissed on Tuesday a blasphemy case against a Christian girl which had drawn international condemnation and concern about the rights of religious minorities in the predominantly Muslim country.Rimsha Masih, believed to be no older than 14, was charged with burning pages of the Koran in August but was granted bail in September after a cleric was detained on suspicion of planting evidence to stir up resentment against Christians.
Masih’s lawyer, Tahir Naveed, said the Islamabad High Court’s decision to throw out the case was based on the fact that no one had seen her burning pages of the Koran.
The case provoked international concern and she could, in theory, have faced execution under Pakistan’s blasphemy law despite her age and reported mental problems....
The blasphemy law enjoys widespread support among ordinary Pakistanis even though critics say it is often abused by people involved in disputes or against members of religious minorities.
Over the past two years, two senior government officials who had suggested reform of the law were shot dead, one by his own bodyguard. Lawyers threw rose petals at the killer and the judge who convicted him was forced to flee the country.
The number of blasphemy cases brought under the law is rising. Since 1987, there have been almost 250 cases, according to the Center for Research and Security Studies think-tank.
Convictions are common, although the death sentence has never been carried out. Most convictions are thrown out on appeal but mobs often take the law into their own hands.
The think-tank said 52 people had been killed after being accused of blasphemy since 1990.
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Pakistan finally drops blasphemy case against 14-year-old Christian girl
They've known for months that a Muslim cleric planted evidence on her. Will that cleric be prosecuted for blasphemy for burning pages of the Qur'an? Not likely.
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Not likely, indeed. And the only reason the truth about the case ever came to light was because of the testimony of *another Muslim*. We'll never know whether his main motive was concern over the injustice to this little developmentally-disabled girl or not.
Still, this is good news.
But here's the big question: even with Pakistani authorities dropping the case, *will this girl and her family be safe*?
All precedent shows that they likely are not. Numerous victims accused of blasphemy in Pakistan have been murdered by the Ummah, even when they have been ewxonerated by the state.
Some pious Muslims have already opined that since the girl confessed, she must be "guilty", no matter that the "evidence" was planted on her by an Imam.
This, the confession of a developmenally-disabled girl held in a women's prison, scared and lonely for her family. Repulsive.
More:
Masih’s lawyer, Tahir Naveed, said the Islamabad High Court’s decision to throw out the case was based on the fact that no one had seen her burning pages of the Koran.
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This is vague. Certainly, victims have been convicted of blasphemy on just these terms.
The court hasn't found her innocent, and it appears there will be no charges against the Imam, either for framing the girl, or for having committed blasphemy himself.
Both of these factors leave the girl and her family especially vulnerable.
Let's hope they can, at least, flee the area. It would be best if they could flee the country.
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The blasphemy law enjoys widespread support among ordinary Pakistanis even though critics say it is often abused by people involved in disputes or against members of religious minorities.
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Well, of course it is used in just this way. A law that is irrational and unjust in the first place is obviously going to be abused.
But it is Shari'ah, and hence is supported by all pious Muslims.
As Governor Salman Taseer's assassination showed, merely questioning the Blasphemy Laws can get you killed, and see your murderer hailed as a hero.
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The number of blasphemy cases brought under the law is rising.
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With the sharp Islamization of so much of the Muslim world—including already Shari'ah-prone Pakistan—I doubt this surprises anyone here.
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Convictions are common, although the death sentence has never been carried out. Most convictions are thrown out on appeal but mobs often take the law into their own hands.
The think-tank said 52 people had been killed after being accused of blasphemy since 1990.
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This is also perfectly mainstream Islam, where if the state does not carry out Shari'ah savagery, that it is perfectly Halal for the Muslim mob to do so.
I hope Rimsha Masih's family can get out.