November 20, 2012: A court in Pakistan has dropped on Tuesday a controversial blasphemy
case against a Christian girl accused by her neighbour of burning pages from the Koran,
reported BBC.
The girl, known as Rimsha and aged 14, was held in a maximum
security jail in July prompting international concern. Her arrest followed accusations
by a Muslim cleric now facing a case for allegedly planting evidence.
Rimsha's
lawyer said the case had been a misuse of law. Her family received death threats and
went into hiding. Following an outcry over the case, Rimsha, who doctors said was
14 years old but with a younger mental age, was released on bail - an extremely rare
move in blasphemy cases.
The case against the Muslim cleric, accused of framing
her, will proceed, said BBC. He will be tried for making a false accusation. There
has been no word yet from Rimsha and her family, who remain in hiding, at an undisclosed
location.
A leading human rights campaigner has welcomed the decision to drop
the case against her, but says her life could still be at risk from extremists.
Blasphemy
is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan, where 97% of the population are Muslim. Christian
campaigners say more than 30 people - suspected of blasphemy - have been killed by
mobs or vigilantes over the past 20 years. Critics say the controversial laws are
misused all too often - to persecute minorities or settle scores.