Islamabad, Aug 23 (ANI): Referring to the case of 11-year-old Rifta Masih, a mentally challenged Christian girl, who was arrested by police on charges of blasphemy, an editorial in a Pakistani daily has said that time and again, Pakistanis have seen the most terrible acts enacted in the name of the blasphemy law, and are unsure when the government will gather the courage to amend the law that has been repeatedly used in the most hideous fashion.
There appears to be no limit to the brutality and inhumanity the blasphemy law and its misuse has inflicted on the Pakistani society. The latest case is especially shocking, where a minor girl with Down's Syndrome, was beaten up by an angry mob and later arrested by the police. People have reported that the child was spotted desecrating pages of the Holy Quran outside her home in a slum located near Islamabad, said the editorial in The Express Tribune.
Just months ago, a mentally unwell man was burnt alive in Punjab after being snatched from a police station following accusations that he had committed blasphemy. It is uncertain what has become of that case. A significant number of victims said to be suffering mental disease remain in jail. Others are behind bars as a result of acts of victimisation or to settle petty disputes. Last year, former Punjab governor and, a few months later, a cabinet minister were shot dead for speaking out against the blasphemy law and the terrible incidents it had introduced in our society, the editorial stated.
The editorial said it wonders how many more such cases will emerge before change can be introduced and events such as those that took place in this case will be brought to an end. (ANI)
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