WASHINGTON - A prominent Muslim civil rights and advocacy organisation Saturday called on the Pakistani government to release Rimsha, a Christian girl who was held on blasphemy charges.
In a statement, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) noted reports from human rights organisations that the girl might have Down syndrome.
The CAIR statement said: “It is imperative that the government of Pakistan immediately release Rimsha and ensure her safety and that of her family and their community. The arrest of such a young person, especially if she has a mental disability, is a serious violation of Islamic principles.”
“Human rights violations like this must be condemned and challenged not only because of their great injustice to vulnerable people, but also because they are falsely committed in the name of Islam.”
The statement added: “It is reported that an angry mob played a role in inciting this arrest, and we ask Pakistani officials to investigate those circumstances.
The reports of media and human rights organisations depict actions by local officials and extremist leaders that are unjust and contradictory to Islamic teachings.”
“In this incident it is not the girl who violated Islam’s teachings but the extremists who seem to have fuelled this unfounded anger. We recognise that President (Asif Ali) Zardari has ordered local officials to explain the arrest, but we urge more concrete actions to protect minorities and other vulnerable members of society,” it concluded.