Post date: Aug 20, 2012 3:41:19 PM
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 20, 2012) (REUTERS) - Pakistani authorities arrested a Christian girl last week and were investigating whether she violated the country's strict blasphemy laws.
The arrest of a young Christian woman on blasphemy charges in Pakistan creates a protest among local rights activists.
Her family home, in a slum area on the outskirts of Islamabad, lay empty and locked on Monday (August 20) after the girl's family left, apparently fearing for their lives.
The family's landlord, Malik Amjad, gave an account of what happened.
"My nephew was going to offer evening prayers. Fifteen minutes before prayers, he saw the girl throwing out garbage. The papers included a Noorani Qaeda and two Suras of the Holy Koran which were half burnt. The people here were saying different things but we handed her over to police," Amjad told Reuters Television.
A Noorani Qaeda is a booklet used to learn the basics of Arabic and the Koran.
Amjad said soon after the incident, local people gathered to protest, demanding the arrest of the girl, named only as Rimsha.
The police took the girl into custody on judicial remand.
There were varying reports on the girl's age, ranging from 12 to 16 years-old, and whether she was mentally disabled. Some said Rimsha had Down syndrome.
Azeem Masih, a neighbour, said a large number of poor Christian residents have fled the area fearing religious violence.
"It was 11, 11:30 at night. A man came to me. He said the Christian families should leave the area as soon as possible. There may be a risk to their lives. My family did not flee but several others left," Masih said.
President Asif Ali Zardari has ordered a report into the arrest.
Under Pakistani law, anyone who speaks ill of Islam and the Prophet Mohammad commits a crime and faces the death penalty but activists say the vague terminology has led to misuse.
Christians, who make up 4 percent of Pakistan's population, have been especially concerned about the law saying it offers them no protection.
Convictions hinge on witness testimony and often these are linked to personal vendettas, they say.
Blasphemy convictions are common in Pakistan although the death sentence has never been carried out. Most convictions are thrown out on appeal, but angry mobs have killed many people accused of blasphemy.
Shamun Gill, spokesman for the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, said the Christian community felt insecure.
"There is no doubt that minorities, especially Christians, feel very insecure," he said.
Last year, two prominent Pakistani political figures who spoke out against the laws were killed. The governor of the most populous state of Punjab, Salman Taseer, who had strongly opposed the law, was gunned down by one of his bodyguards. And in March 2011, militants gunned down Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian minister in Pakistan's Cabinet.