“France calls on the Pakistani authorities to free this young girl,” French foreign ministry spokesman,Vincent Floreani, stated following the concerns expressed by Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari himself. Eleven year old Down’s syndrome sufferer, Rimsha Masih, was arrested on charges of committing blasphemy when she burnt pages from the Noorani Qaida, the guide for learning to read the Koran.
“We call on Pakistan to respect its international commitments in this respect. We would also recall - Froreani added - that the very existence of a crime of blasphemy is in breach of fundamental liberties, the freedom of religion or of conviction as well as the freedom of speech.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan Christian Post reports that Dr. Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC has urged the government of Pakistan to issue arm licenses to every Christian in Pakistan for self-defence and to protect their life and property in light of the young girl’s arrest.
According to Nazir S. Bhatti, the news about the escape of hundreds of Christian families from the village of Meherabad, reveals the government’s “failure” to protect minorities. “To flee from their homes for safety of life of thousands of Christians under the nose of highly protected capital city of Pakistan is total failure of administration.”
“Government - he stated - is not serious to stop miss-use of blasphemy laws in Pakistan and attack on Christian’s life and property.” I urge Christians to sell their TV and other household to buy licensed arms for their self-defense and protection instead of fleeing from their homes,” Bhatti concluded.