Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - "Let us save Rimsha Masih": is the campaign launched by Pakistani Christians in Europe to save the Christian girl falsely accused of blasphemy and currently in a juvenile prison in Islamabad (see Fides 23/08/2012). Tomorrow the Court will rule on the request for her release filed by the girl’s lawyers, on behalf of the family and the "All Pakistan Minorities Alliance".
From Rome to London, mobilization is increasing: the Pakistani Christians in Italy have issued an appeal to be sent to the President of Pakistan Ali Zardari (for adehesions salviamorimshamasih@gmail.com). In a statement sent to Fides, the "Association of Pakistani Christians in Italy" asks: "Who is the real culprit in the case of Rimsha? Is it who threw the papers (which Rimsha then burned) knowing that there were pages of the Koran?". The Association sends " Rimsha Masih, her family and religious minorities of Pakistan a message of sympathy and solidarity, reiterating the request for waiver of prosecution and immediate release." It also emphasizes "full support to all the different organizations, and any Christian denomination, working for the abolition or revision of the blasphemy law, for the law, for the defense and security of religious minorities."
"All those who believe in freedom of worship and respect for religious beliefs of others cannot remain indifferent in the face of this violence," says to Fides Adan Farhaj, President of the "All Pakistan Christian League" in Italy, who organized a public conference yesterday in Porto Sant'Elpidio to ask for Rimsha’s release and to show solidarity with all those who suffer violence because of their faith.
In London, the "British Pakistani Christian Association" held in recent days, a protest in front of the Prime Minister’s Office in Downing Street and launched an online petition (at http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/ freerimshamasih) asking the British Government, the European Union, the United Nations, to put pressure for the girl’s release. The petition will be sent to the "Human Rights Commission of Pakistan," a Pakistani government body. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 27/08/2012)
