12 year old Pakistani girl with Downs Syndrome held in maximum security prison for blasphemy

[link to www.bbc.co.uk]

Doctors in Pakistan have examined a young Christian girl imprisoned on blasphemy charges to determine her age and mental capacity, with the results due to be presented in court tomorrow.

Her lawyer says the girl, called Rimsha, is 11 or 12 years old and appears to have Downs syndrome.

She is being held in a maximum security prison after an angry mob accused her of desecrating pages of the Koran.

But her supporters say she has been wrongly accused.

Police say the girl was arrested last week in a Christian area of the capital Islamabad, after a crowd of people demanded that she be punished for allegedly desecrating pages of the Muslim holy book.

It is not clear whether she burned pages of the Koran or was found to be carrying them in her bag.
Attack fears

The doctors' report will be presented at a bail hearing in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Christian leaders say she is as young as 11 but police quoted in some media reports say she may be older and that she had no mental impairments.

Pakistan's Minister for National Harmony, Paul Bhatti, has said she is innocent and should be released....50% article at link.

Last Edited by MrFlibble on 08/27/2012 12:20 PM