Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - The case of Rimsha Masih, a Catholic girl accused of blasphemy, is having wide coverage in the media, public and private, in Pakistan. It is very present also in the press in Urdu, notoriously linked to conservative Islamic circles. "The case of Rimsha has given Christian and Muslim leaders, opinon makers, intellectuals, leaders of NGOs, the opportunity to explain the evil dynamics and abuse which is being carried out with regards to the blasphemy law. All this is creating a new public awareness in Pakistan, which could lead to a revision or amendment of the law," notes to Fides Agency Fr. John Shakir Nadeem, Director of "Radio Veritas" in Urdu and Secretary of the Commission for Social Communications, of the Episcopal Conference of Pakistan. According to Fr. Shakir Nadeem, "everyone is convinced that the abuse of the blasphemy law must be stopped. This is already a big step forward. One starts by saying that the government could establish a special commission to review the law and find ways to stop the abuses, particularly in the sense of punishing those who use it with false accusations, as in the case of Rimsha." In this debate, there are also political implications: "Of course, it is a very delicate issue, and I think it will be a long-term process, I do not think that it can happen before the general elections next year," adds Fr. Nadeem. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 04/09/2012)
