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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Pakistani girl charged with blasphemy faces delay in securing bail | Pakistani girl charged with blasphemy faces delay in securing bail |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A bail hearing for a Pakistani Christian girl charged with blasphemy has been delayed after her accuser's lawyer challenged a medical report declaring her a juvenile. | A bail hearing for a Pakistani Christian girl charged with blasphemy has been delayed after her accuser's lawyer challenged a medical report declaring her a juvenile. |
| Rimsha Masih's chances of being granted bail at the hearing on Thursday had appeared hopeful after a medical report earlier this week found she was aged around 14 and should therefore be tried as a juvenile, which would allow her bail in a blasphemy case. | Rimsha Masih's chances of being granted bail at the hearing on Thursday had appeared hopeful after a medical report earlier this week found she was aged around 14 and should therefore be tried as a juvenile, which would allow her bail in a blasphemy case. |
| But those hopes were dashed when Rao Abdur Raheem, a new lawyer representing the girl's accuser, questioned the medical evidence. Raheem said doctors had gone beyond their remit by commenting on the girl's mental development and claimed that a medical examination was carried out before a court had requested it. | But those hopes were dashed when Rao Abdur Raheem, a new lawyer representing the girl's accuser, questioned the medical evidence. Raheem said doctors had gone beyond their remit by commenting on the girl's mental development and claimed that a medical examination was carried out before a court had requested it. |
| The court asked the authorities for clarification of the report and the case will be heard again on Saturday. | The court asked the authorities for clarification of the report and the case will be heard again on Saturday. |
| The medical report had found that Rimsha's mental development was below her age. This could be crucial as a blasphemy conviction requires that she was aware of what she was doing. Establishing that she is a juvenile will also bolster her defence. | The medical report had found that Rimsha's mental development was below her age. This could be crucial as a blasphemy conviction requires that she was aware of what she was doing. Establishing that she is a juvenile will also bolster her defence. |
| Rimsha was arrested earlier this month after a neighbour accused her of burning and desecrating pages of the Qur'an. Her parents say she is 11 and has learning difficulties. | Rimsha was arrested earlier this month after a neighbour accused her of burning and desecrating pages of the Qur'an. Her parents say she is 11 and has learning difficulties. |
| The case has caused an international outcry, while there are real fears for her safety and the safety of her family. A blasphemy allegation, proven or not, often leads to a death sentence for the accused as vigilantes take the law into their own hands. | The case has caused an international outcry, while there are real fears for her safety and the safety of her family. A blasphemy allegation, proven or not, often leads to a death sentence for the accused as vigilantes take the law into their own hands. |
| "This [medical] report has been managed by the state, state agencies and the accused," claimed Raheem, speaking after the brief court hearing in Islamabad. "We will not allow people to get away with burning the Qur'an." | "This [medical] report has been managed by the state, state agencies and the accused," claimed Raheem, speaking after the brief court hearing in Islamabad. "We will not allow people to get away with burning the Qur'an." |
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