Related
Stories
- Q&A: Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws
- Pakistan blasphemy case imam held
- Pakistanis 'disturbed' by blasphemy case
 |
| Campaigners have been pressing for Rimsha's release for weeks |
A Christian
girl, who has been detained on blasphemy charges for three weeks in Pakistan,
has been granted bail.
The girl,
named as Rimsha, is thought to be about 14 years old. She was arrested in
Islamabad after an angry mob accused her of burning pages of the Koran and
demanded her punishment.
Last week a
Pakistani imam was remanded in custody, accused of planting burned pages of the
Koran in her bag.
The case
has sparked international condemnation.
Judge
Muhammad Azam Khan ordered her release and set bail at about $10,500 (£6,200).
The BBC's M
Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says that Rimsha is the first person accused of
blasphemy to have been granted bail by a trial court. Blasphemy is not a
bailable offence but her lawyers pleaded that she was a juvenile, our
correspondent reports.
Safety
fears
Rimsha has
been held at a high security prison since 16 August. Since her arrest there
have been conflicting reports about Rimsha's age and mental capacity.
Doctors who
examined her last week said she appeared to be about 14 and that her
"mental age appears below her chronological age".
Her father
has previously said that he fears for his daughter's life and for the safety of
his family.
Her parents
were taken into protective custody following threats, and many other Christian
families have fled the neighbourhood.
Pakistan's
strict blasphemy laws are a highly sensitive subject in the country, but they
are also often used to settle personal vendettas, correspondents say.
And ever
since the arrest of Imam Khalid Chishti, who prosecutors say will face
blasphemy charges himself, campaigners have been pressing for Rimsha's release.
This case
has only served to intensify concerns over the misuse of Pakistan's blasphemy
laws.
Last year
two leading politicians were assassinated after speaking out against the
legislation.
Related Articles:
"Perceptions of God" – June 6, 2010 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Quantum Teaching, The Fear of God, Near-death Experience, God Becomes Mythology, Worship, Mastery, Intelligent Design, Benevolent Creator, Global Unity.... etc.) (Text version)
“.. For centuries you haven't been able to think past that box of what God must be like. So you create a Human-like God with wars in heaven, angel strife, things that would explain the devil, fallen angels, pearly gates, lists of dos and don'ts, and many rules still based on cultures that are centuries old. You create golden streets and even sexual pleasures as rewards for men (of course) - all Human perspective, pasted upon God. I want to tell you that it's a lot different than that. I want to remind you that there are those who have seen it! Why don't you ask somebody who has had what you would call a near-death experience?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.