The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan demands release of blasphemy accused | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan demands release of blasphemy accused

LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the immediate release of Rimsha, the 11-year-old Christian girl, who was arrested from Mehraabad on the charge of blasphemy.

Calling for immediate protection for Rimsha’s family and to the Christian community that has fled the area, the HRCP urged the government to take measures to ensure that all religious minorities, particularly Christians, feel secure. It urged the government to take stern action against the miscreant who tried to instigate violence against non-Muslim citizens.

According to the HRCP, some reports said that the girl was carrying a shopping bag to dispose of used pages when she was stopped by someone who asked her to show what she was carrying. Burnt pages of Holy Quran were allegedly found in the bag. Local clerics alerted and soon a charged mob gathered outside the Rimsha’s house.

According to police, the commission said, the minor girl has been taken into protective custody for her own safety. Rimsha’s family and other Christians have fled from the area to save their lives. The HRCP has said Rimsha suffers from Down’s syndrome and the charge of blasphemy against a minor Christian girl who is seriously unwell is beyond comprehension.

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