As silence falls on the imam behind the blasphemy, Rimsha Masih's case goes to juvenile court
Islamabad (AsiaNews) - The Islamabad District Court sent Rimsha Masih's case to Juvenile Court. The Christian teenager was jailed on false blasphemy charges and released on bail on 7 September thanks to the work of her lawyers, investigators, civil society groups and Pakistani government authorities.
Although many have called for immediate acquittal, including Mgr Rufin Anthony, bishop of the capital, a trial date has been set for 1 October.
The 14-years-old girl has been declared developmentally slow. For this reason, all the charges should be dropped, the bishop said.
A wall of silence has instead fallen on the imam who fabricated the evidence, which eventually led to charges against the girl, and to anti-Christian violence that forced 600 Christian families to flee their homes.
Because of the recent violence associated with a blasphemous anti-Muslim movie, Christians and Muslims are shying away from commenting on the trial of Khalid Jadoon Chishti, fearful they might exacerbate tensions and provoke retaliation from Muslims extremists.
In its report to the court on the Rimsha Masih case, police found no evidence or witnesses against the Christian girl. The latter was arrested on 16 August based on the 'black law,' after she was accused of burning pages of the Noorani Qaida, an exercise book used in teaching Arabic and the Qur'an that contains passages from the Muslim holy book.
In reality, the imam himself burnt the pages and threw them in the garbage bin to instigate a campaign against the Christian minority and seize their assets.
Since she was released on 8 September, Rimsha and her family have been living in safe place to avoid retaliation and personal vendettas.
Forensic investigators are looking at the evidence to find evidence against the real culprits. Results should be available in a few weeks and be decisive for the case.
So far, three witnesses have accused Khalid Jadoon Chishti, saying the imam fabricated the evidence. However, Rao Abdur Rahim lawyer for Hamad Malik, the witness who originally blamed Rimsha Masih, rejected the police findings, claiming that his client had to change his testimony "under pressure from the government" who wanted the girl released.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Mgr Rufin Anthony, bishop of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, said he failed to 'understand that if no evidence was found against Rimsha, why was the case referred to the Juvenile Court?" In his view, "She should have been acquitted" and charges against her dropped.
According to the prelate, "the situation for religious minorities is becoming critical." The case involving the girl with mental problems who was charged for allegedly desecrating the Qur'an should be used as "a test case to stop the misuse of the blasphemy laws in Pakistan." For him, "It is time to promote tolerance and peace.
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