Karachi: Pakistani Christians on Monday rallied to protest against the arrest of an 11-year-old Christian girl for her allegedly committing desecration of Quranic verses which is considered blasphemous and being convicted under Pakistani law .
The protest was organised by International Christians Alliance, a local group formed for advocating Christians’ rights here, which saw participation from dozens of Christians carrying banners and posters demanding the release of the girl.
Rimsha Masrak was arrested by Islamabad police and a case was registered against her after she was accused of burning some papers inscribed with Quranic verses. The arrested girl, who reportedly has Down’s Syndrome, was remanded into police custody for 14 days.
“Rimsha did not commit that on purpose nor has she enough intelligence to do so,” pastor Irfan Dean, who heads the alliance, told the rally.
“She was involved just because of personal enmity and religious bigotry,” he said.
The Christian leaders also condemned the police for registering the case against the girl under 295-C which is called the ‘blasphemy law’ and criticised by rights and secular groups of the country whereas Islamists defend the law.
Under the blasphemy law, anyone who speaks ill of Islam and the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) commits a crime and could face the death penalty, but activists say vague terminology has led to its misuse.
“President Asif Ali Zardari last week took noticeof the arrest and called on officials to explain the arrest on blasphemy charges of the Christian girl.
A spokesman of Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has criticised the president for taking notice of this case but failing to do any thing for Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman languishing in an American jail.
“I ask Mr President that you have sympathy for Rimsha but you have never took notice of what;s happening with the daughter of Islam, Aafia Siddiqi, ” Ahsanullah Ahsan, the spokesman of TTP, said in an email dispatched to the media.
“It clearly indicates that this system is secular and un-Islamic. It;’s a duty for us to fight against this system and replace it with Shariah,” it concluded.
