A girl with Down syndrome has been detained for days in an Islamabad jail on charges of blasphemy, a crime punishable by death in Pakistan.
Authorities say Rimsha, a teen, was found holding burnt pages containing Islamic text and Koranic verses. An officer too afraid to disclose his name cited angry Muslim protests as the cause for the quick action taken against her.
Not only is Rimsha under arrest, but All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) says her Christian community in Mehrabad was also targeted by protesters.
Acknowledging Rimsha’s condition and correcting her age to 11 or 12, APMA adds that the issue is “hugely sensitive” and prefers it be resolved “amicably.”
But Abdullah with Women’s Action Forum says the case should have been handled by juvenile court. She reports also that police have banned lawyers and advocates from seeing Rimsha.
This child must be terrified, and her detainment should not be allowed to continue. Tell Pakistan, don’t prosecute this child with Down syndrome.
We, the undersigned, are shocked by the action taken against this child with Down syndrome.
Most children with Down syndrome have delayed mental and social development and sometimes struggle with impulsive behavior, poor judgment, short attention span and slow learning, more so than most other children do.
No child, whether suffering intellectual or behavioral problems or not, belongs in an adult jail or charged with a capital crime, no matter how sensitive the issue involved.
We agree with Women’s Action Forum that at the very least, the Rimsha should be under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system and not being held in jail, nor being kept from visits by lawyers or civil rights advocates.
Because children with Down syndrome tend to deal with high anxiety and fear, it’s important that they have routine and predictability in their lives. Therefore, Rimsha is likely terrified at how she is being treated, and she should be released from jail immediately.
We request that your government release this child into the proper custody and stop prosecuting children, especially those with Down syndrome or other limiting conditions.
Thanks for your serious and immediate attention to these requests.
