The Bishops: "With the truth in Rimsha’s case, the whole of Pakistan gains"
September 04, 2012: "To establish the truth concerning Rimsha Masi’s case, and the
false accusations, is a gain, not only for the Christian community, but for the whole
of Pakistan: it is a boon for democracy, for justice, for the respect of the law and
the rights of all citizens. False accusations of blasphemy, in fact, have affected
religious minorities but also hundreds of Muslim citizens": This is what Fr. Emmanuel
Yousaf, Director of the Commission "Justice and Peace" of the Episcopal Conference
of Pakistan says to Fides Agency, expressing, on behalf of the entire Catholic episcopate,
"satisfaction and hope that the truth and the good will win in the sad story concerning
the young Rimsha."
Fr. Yousaf was present on September 3, at the hearing in
the Court of Islamabad that is dealing with the case and informs that the Court has
been adjourned to Friday, September 7. "We believe – he explained – that on Friday
Rimsha will be free. Her release will be a victory of truth, but will also be a victory
for the whole nation. Rimsha’s case will become an exemplary case: for a long time,
in fact, Bishops and religious minorities, human rights defenders, have reported abuses
of the blasphemy law. Now this distortion is before the eyes of all."
The Director
of the Commission "Justice and Peace" notes that "there have not been Islamic radicals
demonstrations against Rimsha or in defense of the Imam arrested. Indeed, important
Islamic leaders such as Tahir Ashrafi, of the 'All Pakistan Ulema Council', defended
Rimsha and denounced the abuses of the blasphemy law, publicly condemning the Imam
and asking to be punished." The Mufti Naeem of the Mosque "Jamea Bin Nooria" in Karachi
has even expressed willingness to "accept Rimsha and to take care of her and her family,"
as a gesture of interfaith solidarity.
As reported to Fides, to give a national,
legal and cultural prominence to Rimsha’s story and to make it a warning to all, the
Catholic lawyer Kahalil Tahir Sindhu has asked the 17 judges of the Supreme Court
of Pakistan to emit a verdict "suo moto"(on one’s own initiative) by reiterating the
key points of the case. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 03/09/2012