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Imam Arrested for Framing Disabled Girl for Blasphemy

Witnesses say cleric tore Koran, put pages in girl's bag

By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 2, 2012 7:33 AM CDT

(Newser) – A Muslim cleric was arrested today for framing a blasphemy accusation against an 11-year-old Christian girl who reportedly suffers from Down syndrome, reports Reuters. Witnesses said the cleric tore pages from a Koran and put them in the girl's bag, which led to the original outrage and charges against the girl. The girl is scheduled to have a bail hearing tomorrow. While the death penalty (the maximum sentence for blasphemy) has never been carried out in Pakistan, critics say the laws incite violence and extremism, and that the country's Christian minority is especially vulnerable.

Pakistani Christians, who claimed to have been evicted from the neighborhood of a Christian girl arrested on alleged blasphemy charges, rally in Islamabad, Pakistan on Aug. 31, 2012.
Pakistani Christians, who claimed to have been evicted from the neighborhood of a Christian girl arrested on alleged blasphemy charges, rally in Islamabad, Pakistan on Aug. 31, 2012.   (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)
A refugee reading from a Koran in a mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, on Aug. 8, 2012.
A refugee reading from a Koran in a mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, on Aug. 8, 2012.   (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 46 comments
butch70
Sep 3, 2012 11:20 AM CDT
It goes to show how backward these countries are. At least we do not throw them in jail because of their religion. If you do not want to go to church you don't have to.
godfather1013
Sep 2, 2012 2:26 PM CDT
OH, Pakistan... Every day, in every way, you show what a benevolent, tolerant society you are. You let religious fanatics run rampant through every aspect of your society. You let parents kill female children because they disagree with things like taking part in an arranged marriage with much older men. Disgusting.
CircusStartsAt8
Sep 2, 2012 2:25 PM CDT
Cut this muslums head off and stick it up his @$$. Or better yet. Stick it up Obuma's @$$.

 
Pakistan • Koran • blasphemy • desecrate • Down Syndrome • imam

 
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