Islamabad: The teenage girl accused of burning pages of the Quran has been released on bail and is now back with her family. But she still fears for her life. 14-year-old Rimsha Mahsee said, "Yes, I'm scared. I'm scared scared that someone might kill me. I'm scared of anyone who might want to kill us."
That fear first came last month in Rimsha's neighborhood when she was accused of burning pages of the Quran - a violation of Pakistan's blasphemy law, punishable by life in prison.
Rimsha, a Christian and her lawyers say that she was set up by a neighbour she does not get along with and a local cleric who wanted to scare away Christian families from his neighbourhood.
Rimsha denies it and says no. Her father who is a house painter and takes home just a few dollars a day says no one in his family would dare damage the Quran.
"We respect the Quran just like the Bible. We couldn't imagine committing blasphemy, let alone actually doing it. Our children would never do this either. These are false accusations," he said.
Rimsha's lawyers say several aid groups have offered to give her and her family a home away from Pakistan.
For now, Rimsha says she is not going anywhere. "I won't leave my country because I love it. I love Pakistan and I won't ever leave my country," she insists.
Comments
0 comment