WAF condemns arrest of disabled minor Christian girl on blasphemy charges

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Islamabad, Aug 23: The Women’s Action Forum has condemned the arrest of a minor mentally challenged Christian girl on charges of blasphemy on August 17.

Rifta Masih, 11, who reportedly suffers from Down’s Syndrome, arrested for allegedly burning pages from the Holy Quran. She was taken into custody in a low-income area of Islamabad last Thursday after a furious mob demanded she be punished.

According to a joint statement issued by all chapters of the national platform for women’s rights, subsequent death threats and harassment by Muslims have spread panic among the residents of the Christian Colony of Mehrabad, reports the Daily Times.

“We hang our heads in utter shame at the treatment our minorities, particularly Christians, Hindus and Ahmadis, are receiving at the hands of both Islamist extremists and government functionaries, whose fundamental duty is to protect their life, property, honour and dignity,” the statement said.

The forum demanded that Interior Minister Rehman Malik and the Islamabad inspector general (IG) immediately release and shift the girl to a shelter in the utmost secrecy for her protection and safety. The forum also demanded that Malik take immediate steps to protect the life and property of all Christians of Mehrabad and elsewhere currently under severe threat. (ANI)