RimshaPetition

International Christian Concern 2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, #941 Washington, DC 20006 301-585-5915 ♦ icc@persecution.org

PETITION CALLING FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE AND SAFEKEEPING OF RIMSHA MISRAK

Her Excellency Ambassador Sherry Rehman Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 3517 International Court NW Washington, D.C. 20008 August 28, 2012, Dear Ambassador Rehman, It is with great concern that we petition your government for the immediate release and subsequent safekeeping of Ms. Rimsha Misrak. Rimsha is a young Christian girl from the Meira Abadi district of Islamabad who was arrested on August 16th for allegedly blaspheming Islam. Rimsha, who doctors say is only 14 years old, was accused of burning pages of the Quran by her neighbors and was subsequently arrested on charges of blasphemy, which as you know is punishable by death. She is currently being held in police custody in Rawalpindi, pending trial. The arrest, imprisonment and potential death sentence of a minor, who may also have developmental disabilities, by Pakistani authorities on charges of blasphemy has come as a horrific shock to the international community. Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are used far too often by extremist groups to target the country’s Christian minority. In addition, as alarming as Rimsha’s arrest is, perhaps even more alarming is the reaction of the Muslim community in her neighborhood. The day after her arrest, a mob of between 600 and 1,000 people began setting Christian homes on fire and calling for Rimsha to be burned alive. According to one report, more than 250 Christian families have already fled the area. The threats made by Rimsha’s neighbors must not be taken lightly. According to a report by Human Rights First, at least 46 people accused of blasphemy over the past 25 years in Pakistan have been murdered by mob violence. In July, a man accused of blasphemy was dragged from police custody in Punjab’s Bahawalpur district and summarily beaten to death before his body was set aflame. This incident underscores the very serious need to quickly secure Rimsha’s safety. Imprisoning Rimsha for her own safety, as some reports suggest, is not a justifiable solution. Why should a 14-year-old girl be kept locked in a cell and separated from her family simply because radical extremists have threatened to take the law into their own hands? Mrs. Ambassador, we urge you in the strongest possible terms to secure the release of this innocent young girl and ensure her safety after she is released. Thank you for your consideration into this matter. We look forward to your response. Sincerely, International Christian Concern (and attached) CC: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Senator Richard Lugar, Ranking Republican Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Congressman Howard L. Berman, Ranking Democratic Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs

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