Kevin M. Mathewson

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan–Rimsha Masih, a fourteen year old Pakistani Christian girl who was falsely accused of burning pages from the Koran, has fled to Canada with her family.

Rimsha and her family being released from prison.

The case attracted widespread international concern after Rimsha was detained in a maximum security prison for several weeks in August 2012. Charges against the girl were subsequently dropped, yet she and her family were forced into hiding after receiving several death threats.  If convicted, the teenager could have faced life in prison.

Along with the young girl’s release, Cleric Hafiz Mohammed Khalid Chishti has been detained on suspicion of planting evidence to create resentment against Christians.

The teenager, who is believed to have learning difficulties, has now settled in Canada although the family’s exact location has not been made public.

According to Peter Bhatti, the leader of a Christian organization in Canada, Rimsha and her family are doing well.

“She is doing wonderful. She is studying in school, every day, she [is] going to school, she is learning, she is starting to talk more.”  Bhatti said.

In Pakistan, where 97% of the population is Muslim, blasphemy has become an overwhelmingly sensitive issue. In 2011 politicians Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti were assassinated for attempting to reform blasphemy law.

Campaigners allege that the law is frequently used to target religious minorities or settle personal scores. Suspects can face the fury of lynch mobs and judges soft on sentencing those convicted of the crime have even been murdered.

However, there seems to be little change in the law. Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five, was sentenced to death in November 2010 and remains in prison after numerous women claimed she made derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammed.

For further information, please see:

BBC News – Pakistani girl falsely accused of blasphemy ‘in Canada’ – 29 June 2013

Fox News – Pakistan ‘blasphemy’ girl moves to Canada – 30 June 2013

The Telegraph – Pakistani girl falsely accused of blasphemy flees to Canada – 30 June 2013

CNews – Pakistani girl accused of blasphemy settled in Canada: reports  – 30 June 2013

Author: Impunity Watch Archive