The family of the Pakistani Christian girl who was jailed on suspicion of blasphemy has expressed their relief and joy at her release on bail.Rimsha Masih, who is thought to be between 11 and 14 and has Down's Syndrome, was bailed on Friday following an international outcry over her three-week detention.
Rimsha's father Misrek told the Rome-based AsiaNews that he was "grateful from the bottom of my heart" for the efforts of Paul Bhatti, Pakistan's special adviser to the Prime Minister for National Harmony, and Catholic campaigners at the All-Pakistani Minorities Alliance.
Mr Bhatti spoke of the "joy and satisfaction" of the entire Pakistani community, Christian and non-Christian, because "justice has been done".
In an interview with the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Sebastian Shaw, Apostolic Administrator of Lahore Archdiocese, said Rimsha's release was "a big break-through" that "gives courage to other judges to act in a similar way" in blaspehmy cases.
An Islamabad court granted bail after reports emerged that a local imam had fabricated accusations against her.