Pakistan frees Christian girl accused of blasphemy

[jsr]

Source: Associated Press

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) -- A Pakistani jail official says that a young Christian girl accused burning pages of the Islam's holy book has been freed from a jail near the capital.

The release comes a day after a judge granted her bail.

Mushtaq Awan says the girl left the prison in Rawalpindi, a garrison city near Islamabad, Saturday afternoon.

She has been held for a little over three weeks after neighbors accused her of violating the country's strict blasphemy law.


Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012/09/8/pakistan-frees-christian-girl-accused-of-blasphemy/57697770/1

[Trajan]

1. This girl needs to leave ...

Releasing her into the same community who seemed hell bent on criminalizing her 'difference' (I understand she has Down's Syndrome), would be cruel and unjust.

She needs a safe place, because whoever caused this in the first place (it wasn't just one imam) isn't going to stop.

[etherealtruth]

5. I am truly frightened for her safety

[grahamhgreen]

2. Bail is not exactly 'free'

[zellie]

3. I'm just glad they didnt behead her...

that poor girl needs somewhere safe.

[kestrel91316]

4. She needs to flee ASAP with family and seek asylum in a sane nation.

[azurnoir]

6. so the Pakistani police have arrested an Imam for planting the 'evidence' on this poor girl

But in a sudden turn-around, police arrested a cleric after a follower from his mosque accused him of stashing pages of a Quran in the girl's bag to make it seem as if she burned them. He allegedly planted the evidence to push Christians out of the neighborhood and is now being investigated for blasphemy himself. He has denied the allegation.

The arrest was applauded as a rare occurrence when blasphemy accusers are held responsible for false claims.

In his ruling granting bail, the judge wrote that the arrest of the cleric cast serious doubt on the prosecution's case. He also said she was a minor, had mental challenges and that it was "not believable" that she had intentionally burnt the Quranic verses. On those grounds, he decided to grant the bail.

The tight security present during her release is a sign that authorities are taking her safety seriously in light of previous attacks on people accused of blasphemy. Two prominent politicians were gunned down last year for suggesting the blasphemy laws should be amended to prevent misuse. The killer of one of the politicians was later lauded by supporters who threw rose petals whenever he appeared at court.

thank you for posting this

[warrprayer]

7. Run!

Flee! Do not look back! Poor girl.

[SylviaD]

8. I have heard that the little girl is mentally challenged as well. nt

[happyslug]

11. And supported by Moslem Imans

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014209398

This whole incident appears to be an attack on the Christian Minority in Pakistan then an attack by Moslems against Christians.

Someone is trying to do in Pakistan what the Military of Egypt tried to do with its Christian minority, use them as scapegoats to keep the majority of Egyptians on the side of the Military, AND appear to the Christians that they will protect the Christians, and the opposition Moslem groups will attack them.

Thus the act of these two Islamic Leaders to support this girl, and the finding of the text by an Iman with Government Support undermines this whole propaganda effort.

The original news article on the support from Islamic leaders is here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/27/pakistani-muslim-christian-girl-blasphemy

[cosmicone]

9. No one in Pakistan is safe

except for the military and ISI brass along with their terrorist buddies.

Heck, even Benazir Bhutto was not safe.

This is what persistent hatred of India has brought to Pakistan and the only way to end that hate is by balkanization of Pakistan.

[movingviolation]

10. Blasphemy laws, really, in this day and age.

Just when I can't imagine loathing our insipid race any more than I already do, I hear stuff like this.