Islamabad: August 26, 2012. (Report by Shahzad Kamran) This is an updated report on a Christian girl named Rimsha aged 11 years, who reportedly suffers from Down syndrome, daughter of Misrik resident of a colony known as Meher Jafar situated at suburb of Capital, held under Anti-Blasphemy law in Islamabad capital of Pakistan. A case got registered against 11 years old Rimsha at Ramna Police Station Islamabad on 16th August 2012 at about 8:50pm vide First Information Report (FIR) No. 303 offence under section 295-B of Pakistan Penal Code. A local Muslim named Mohammad Hammad son of Mohammad Riaz resident of Meher Jafar colony appeared as complainant of the case. Hammad in his application accused Rimsha of burning Islamic papers, to which the case got registered, local police arrested Rimsha and sent her to jail. Vast Vision Ministry’s fact finding team led by the Director Shahzad Kamran visited the area and interviewed many people regarding the case. Background: Meher Jafer is a vast colony consisted thousands of Muslim and Christian families, situated at the edge of Islamabad known as sector G12. According to locals Sector G12 is not acquired by Capital Development Authorities (CDA) therefore the area is still deprived of basic developments. Muslims are mostly landlords while Christians are living in rented houses owned by Muslims. Mostly Christians are poor and do sanitary work for a living. Rimsha’s family is one of the poor families in Meher Jafar colony. Hate Campaign through Mosque Loudspeakers: This is pertinent to mention here that on this incident the Muslim clerics of nearby mosque instigated a hate campaign against Christians of Meher Jafar. They made announcements through loudspeakers that Rimsha is liable to death and all chooras (a derogatory term for South Asian Christians) are hateful. An Imam named Hafiz Khalid Shishti of local mosque named Masjid Ameenia urged Muslims of the area to burn Christians of Meher Jafar alive… to which more than 600 Christian families left their houses immediately. Another Muslim leader named Khateeb Moullana Amir Qadri also instigated Muslims mob through the mosque known as Anwaar-a-Mustfa that Rimsha is liable to death because of blasphemy accusation upon her. On announcements of Khateeb Amir numbers of Muslims got together and staged protested, they also terrified Christians. Important: This is also an important fact worthy to mention here that an Assistant Sub-Inspector Noor Illahi got a First Information Report registered on a wireless call against perhaps 170 Muslims those who where angry and were staging protest against Rimsha. The First Information Report has been registered vide number 304/2012 on the 17th day of August 2012 at 5:50pm, offence under section 353/186, 148/149, 434/341, 431/427 of Pakistan Penal Code and 2/3 of Amplifier Act. Khateeb Amir Qadri has been mentioned as the main culprit in FIR while Ghazanfer Ali, Jamshaid Mehboob, Saeed Mughal, Naeek Multan are also included in 170 protestors. Social Boycott of Christians: The Muslims of area are very aggressive and harsh with the Christians, there are only three families left in Meher Jafar Colony those who could not move for shelter another place. They are living in quarters owned by a Muslim named Malik Fareed who strictly ordered Christians to leave his quarters otherwise they will have to face dire consequences, poor Christians are compelled to leave but they do not know where they will go for a shelter. Allegation on Rimsha: According to story narrated in First Information Report, on the 16th day of August 2012 at about 6:45pm a Muslim fellow named as Mohammad Hammad son of Mohammad Riaz claimed that he was present in the street when he saw Rimsha holding a shopping bag in her hands was going to a heap of garbage. Hammad claimed that he suspected that there are papers with Quranic verses in the shopping bag, to which he investigated Rimsha that what was in her hands and where was she going… Rimsha told him that she is going to throw the papers on the heap of garbage. Mohammad Hammad further told in his application to local police, that he saw Islamic papers in the shopping that were partially burnt and that were containing Islamic verses. He demanded a strict legal action against Rimsha for disgracing the holy papers. The officials of Ramna Police station got the case registered under section 295-B of Pakistan Penal Code, Vide FIR No. 303/2012,arrested Rimsha and sent her to jail. The Real Facts Behind the Case: According to the facts finding of Vast Vision Ministry there are real facts that are possibly hidden from the story reported in media, and the facts caused this crucial case against a 11 years old Rimsha. Vast Vision Ministry’s team visited the place of occurrence and interviewed local residents of the Meher Jafar Colony. On asking Vast Vision Ministry, a Muslim fellow told about the incident, he said, “We are living in this town for last many years, we gave place to Christians to live here. We gave our houses on rent to Christians but we don’t like the way of their worship. Christians use loudspeakers, musical instruments and make a noise when they worship. That sounds they are having a party, it should be in respective way… moreover now they dared to insult Islam by burning papers of our Holy Book Quran. Now we cannot bear them even for a second in this colony. They have to leave our houses and relocate somewhere else.” Muslim Extremists Taking Law in Hands: It revealed in fact finding of the case that Muslims extremists of the area attacked Christians, they beat Rimsha and her family members, torn clothes of Christian ladies publically and tortured Christians ruthlessly. Legal Situation of the Case: Rimsha is presently detained in Rawalpindi Jail and her family along with hundreds of Christians left the house. Rimsha’s family is in shelter of some Christian organization (name of organization cannot be mentioned in this report for security reasons). A bail petition has been moved in the court of sessions for release of Rimsha, the next date of hearing in on 28th August 2012 in the court of Raja Jawad Hassan Judge of Court of Sessions Islamabad. Defense Lawyer for Rimsha: Vast Vision Ministry talked with the defense lawyer of Rimsha named Tahir Naveed Chaudhri Advocate who is a Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) and also a Member of Central Executive Committee of All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA). Mr. Naveed told that he has moved a bail petition in the court of sessions which is going to be heard in the court of Feelings of Christian: A wave of terror and insecurity can be easily felt in Christian Community of Pakistan over Rimsha’s case. Christians are communicating with fellow believers through SMSs and asking for prayers for security of Rimsha. Everybody is concerned about 11 years old Rimsha as her life has gone on severe life risks. Christians are praying for Rimsha within families and in churches and begging for peace and justice to the little girl. Church Leaders’ Role: Probably every Christian in Pakistan and around the world is very much concerned about the Rimsha but unexpectedly the Christian leaders of mainstream Pakistani churches, bishops and high priest are found silent on Rimsha’s case. No statement has been issued from Pakistani bishop or high priest of Christians. Press Release: A Joint Action Committee of Pakistani Christians condemned the arrest of Rimsha in a press conference in Lahore. Press Release can be read on following link. http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/headlinenewsd.php?hnewsid=3704 Local Authorities Role: Vast Vision Ministry, during visits to Meher Jafar, observed that there were not police to give security to Christians while it is very sensitive issue in Pakistan. It was really disappointing that local authorities do not give protection to Christians practically by deputing police guards. According to the local print and electronic media The President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari seeks report on arrest of Rimsha. see the following link http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/islamabad/20-Aug-2012/zardari-seeks-report-on-girl-s-blasphemy-case Conclusion and Recommendations: Mr. Shahzad Kamran the director of Vast Vision Ministry expressed his sorrows on Rimsha’s arrest. He said that it is such a shame for Pakistani government that religious minorities especially Christians are feeling insecure in Pakistan. The episodes of killing Christians over blasphemy accusation are exacerbating the reputation of Pakistan in international community. It is heartrending that Blasphemy law is being misused so badly and has become hanging sword on the necks of religious minorities of Pakistan. Christians are already aggrieved and wounds are still bleeding on the souls of Pakistani Christians over the assassination of Federal Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, he was one and only voice of Christians in the parliament of Pakistan that has been made silent by Muslim extremists. In the month of July 2010 Two Christian brothers Rashid and Sajid were killed in police custody in Faisalabad courts. 7 Christians including ladies and children were burnt alive while 1 Christian was shot dead in Gojra riots in the month of August 2009. A Christian lady named Aasia Bibi has been sentenced to death, she was arrested in a Blasphemy case in the month of June 2009, and she is still in death row. The Federal Governor for Punjab Government Salman Taseer appeared as defender of poor Aasia Bibi who was also assassinated in early 2011, his sympathies to Aasia Bibi felt as crime and sin to his bodyguard who killed him for the sake of so called heavenly reward. There are number of cases against Christians in which victims are facing trails or serving prisons after punishments. Recently in the month of July 2012, a mentally handicapped Christian was burnt alive in Bahawalpur as he was accused of blasphemy. Recommendations: It is strongly recommended that Government should take strict action against the culprits who take law into their hands. Government should amend the blasphemy law and should make sure the law may not be misused. Government should deal with the Islamic outlawed organizations and clerics those who instigate hate campaign against Christians when an occurrence takes place. The blasphemy cases should not be registered without investigation conducted by senor police officers in supervision of authorities on Magistrate level. If the accusation approves false, the complainant of the case should be awarded with same punishment. Government should provide every possible security to Christians and other religious minorities those who are suffering from blasphemy accusations. There are hundreds of Christians who escaped from Meher Jafar to save their lives, Government should take initiative to restore poor Christian families.