Pakistan Frees Girl Accused of Blasphemy

A Pakistani teenager who had been jailed on what look to be bogus charges of desecrating the Koran walked out of prison today, reports the Guardian. Prison officials in Rawalpindi released Rimsha Masih one day after a judge granted her bail. Rimsha is 14, but is said to have a low IQ and the intelligence of a younger child.

She was arrested three weeks ago after a local mullah accused her of burning the Koran. (It's not even clear she can read.) Since then, witnesses have come forward to say the mullah planted pages in a bag of ashes she was carrying, part of an apparent plot to drive Christians from his neighborhood. Rimsha is due to return to court, unless her lawyers succeed in getting charges dropped. (More Pakistan stories.)