”This is the first time in the history of Pakistan that the Muslim community and scholars have stood up for non-Muslims,” said Sajid Ishaq, chairman of the Pakistan Interfaith League. ”We are together, demanding justice, demanding an unbiased investigation. And those abusing this law should be taken care of.”
It is dangerous in Pakistan even to discuss blasphemy, which carries the death penalty. The law is frequently used to level false allegations in order to settle scores. The police and the courts are usually too afraid to investigate the validity of the claims, leading to convictions on hearsay.
All of Rimsha’s community, about 300 Christian families, are now living with relatives or in shelters elsewhere in Islamabad.
