Christian girl remains jailed on blasphemy charges
- 12 years ago
The bail hearing for a Christian girl being held on blasphemy charges in Pakistan has been delayed again-- this time due to a lawyer's strike.
Rishma Masih was arrested and jailed on August 16th after a neighbor said he saw her throwing out burnt pages of the Koran.
Hospital records say the girl is 14 but has the mental capacities of someone younger.
A prominent Islamic leader has offered to protect the girl after media reports surfaced that the government is keeping her in jail because her life could be in danger if she's released.
(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) TAHIR MEHMOOD ASHRAFI, CHAIRMAN PAKISTAN ULEMA COUNCIL, SAYING:
"Rimsha is a daughter of this country; she is the daughter of Pakistan. If the court releases her and the government cannot provide security for her, Pakistan Ulema Council is ready to do so."
Earlier this week, a Muslim cleric was arrested on allegations he that planted the destroyed Koran pages to frame her.
Defaming the Koran carries the death penalty in Pakistan. Critics say the law is often misused to settle personal disputes.
A new hearing date has been set for Friday, September 7th.
Rishma Masih was arrested and jailed on August 16th after a neighbor said he saw her throwing out burnt pages of the Koran.
Hospital records say the girl is 14 but has the mental capacities of someone younger.
A prominent Islamic leader has offered to protect the girl after media reports surfaced that the government is keeping her in jail because her life could be in danger if she's released.
(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) TAHIR MEHMOOD ASHRAFI, CHAIRMAN PAKISTAN ULEMA COUNCIL, SAYING:
"Rimsha is a daughter of this country; she is the daughter of Pakistan. If the court releases her and the government cannot provide security for her, Pakistan Ulema Council is ready to do so."
Earlier this week, a Muslim cleric was arrested on allegations he that planted the destroyed Koran pages to frame her.
Defaming the Koran carries the death penalty in Pakistan. Critics say the law is often misused to settle personal disputes.
A new hearing date has been set for Friday, September 7th.