London: September 7, 2012. (PCP) A court judge has granted bail to Rimsha Masih, a young Christian girl from a suburb of Islamabad in Pakistan who was accused of blasphemy. Masih has spent the past few weeks in a maximum security prison after being accused by neighbours of burning pages with Koranic verses on them. Her case made international headlines because of her young age - she was reported by her family to be 11-years-old and a medical report put her age at around 14. The medical report also concluded that she had a lower mental age. Khalid Chishti, the imam who spearheaded the blasphemy charge against Rimsha, was later arrested on suspicion of planting evidence against her. Judge Muhammad Azam Khan ordered her release and set bail at 500,000 ruppees (around £3,308). He also ordered that she be placed under protective custody as there is concern for her safety. Blasphemy allegations are very serious in Pakistan and extremists have in the past taken matters into their own hands when courts have overturned charges and released the accused. The Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) welcomed the release of Rimsha but remains concerned for her safety and the welfare of the wider Christian community, which remains subject to random accusations of blasphemy based on little or no evidene. Nasir Saeed, CLAAS UK Coordinator commented: "The charge of blasphemy against Rimsha Masih was based on false evidence and this is not an uncommon occurrence in Pakistan. Sadly the blaspemy laws are frequently misused to stir up animosity and hatred towards Christians and even to take their land or property. We wish to thank the Pakistani and international press for their keen interest in this story and for bringing it to the world's attention. This has certainly played a part in Rimsha's release. There are, however, many accusations of blasphemy against Christians and other minorities in Pakistan that never make the news headlines and some of these nameless victims pay the price of these unjust laws with their lives. Even those who do not fall victim to extra judicial killings face the death penalty or years in prisons where the conditions are terrible. We appeal to the Pakistani government to review these laws with urgency and implement reforms that will bring an end to their misuse and the suffering of minorities."