30 August 2012

Global condemnation makes it more difficult to free Pakistani girl accused of blasphemy

The Vatican has had its say. Online petitions are filling with virtual signatures. Pakistan's president is being lobbied. And even Muslim groups are coming to her aid.

Rimsha Masih has a lot of supporters. But ironically it could be the waves of support that mean the young Christian girl is eventually convicted of blasphemy – or even bludgeoned to death by another prisoner.

For although the law is rarely best carried out in secret, Pakistan's archaic blasphemy laws fall apart entirely when conducted amid the blaze of publicity. [telegraph.co.uk] Read more