Pakistani Christian girl accused of blasphemy released on bail

Farooq Naeem / AFP - Getty Images

Pakistani security personnel shift Rimsha Masih, left, a Christian girl accused of blasphemy, to a helicopter after her release from jail in Rawalpindi on Saturday.

Updated at 10:19 p.m.: RAWALPINDI, Pakistan -- A young Christian girl accused of burning pages of the Islam's holy book has been freed from a jail near the capital, a Pakistani jail official said Saturday.

The release came a day after a judge granted her bail.


Mushtaq Awan said the 14-year-old girl left the jail in Rawalpindi, a garrison city near Islamabad, Saturday afternoon.

Rimsha Masih has been held for a little over three weeks after neighbors accused her of violating the country's strict blasphemy law.

Pakistani judge grants bail for Christian girl in blasphemy case

In Muslim Pakistan, the mere allegation of causing offence to Islam can mean death. Those accused under an anti-blasphemy law are sometimes lynched by the public even if they are found innocent by the courts.

An Associated Press reporter on the scene said she was taken from the prison in an armored vehicle and whisked to a waiting helicopter while covered with a sheet to protect her identity. Previous news reports have identified her as Rimsha Masih, believed to be 14.

Her lawyers said they will now push to have the case against her thrown out entirely.

K.M. Chaudary / AP

Images of daily life, political pursuits, religious rites and deadly violence.

Human Rights Watch welcomed Masih's release and urged authorities to consider reforming the law.

"This child should not have been behind bars at all. All charges against her should be dropped," the international rights group said in a statement.

"Pakistan's criminal justice system should instead concentrate on holding her accuser accountable for inciting violence against the child and members of the local Christian community."

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Even as a democract. I know an enemy when I see 1 we have to do some about the evil Pakistan. Before we have another 9/11

  • 10 votes
#1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 9:50 AM EDT

The constant drive to "do something about' the goings on in other nations is the cause of and the guarantee of "another 9/11."

  • 9 votes
#1.1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 10:41 AM EDT

What we need to to is mind our own friggin' business as a nation....that will reduce the possibility of another "9/11." While I do not agree with the horrific beliefs (such as the blaspheme laws in Islamic nations) of some countries, it is not our place to interfere. Rant and rave as much about the situation as we can to bring the injustice to light, however we need to butt out. If enough people in any given country stand together against the governing authorities, they can and will change it.

  • 10 votes
#1.2 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 10:47 AM EDT
Comment author avatarRockyroad-531554Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

I hear that it is even worse in America.

Someone blasphemed about Obama so they sent them to GITMO never to be seen or heard again! *gasp*

  • 4 votes
#1.3 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:00 AM EDT

There's always one....

  • 4 votes
#1.4 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:18 AM EDT

The scary part is that this country with the backwards thinking is nuclear armed. Christians can not live in peace in the ME, and worship outwardly as they please without fear of retribution. My analogy of Christians living in the ME, is like The water buffalo, living among the crocs, they(crocs) are just lying in wait inder the surface, waiting for one to make the wrong move, then attack it, and kill it.The sad part is that these are people not wild animals

We should offer this girl asylum. Christians in the ME beware these type of accusations are happening more often than they used to.

  • 9 votes
#1.5 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:31 AM EDT

They should be dropping all charges against the girl and bringing charges against the local Imam. He should charged with filing a false police report, attempting to incite violence, and obstruction of justice. Then of course the Imam himself could be charged with blasphemy since he tore pages out of a Koran to use to mix in with the ashes in order to frame the girl, making him guilty of the crime he accused the girl of to start with. This Imam was deliberately trying to incite hatred against the local Christians and manufacture a reason to run them out of town. Unfortunately, it is extremely unlikely that any action will be taken against the Imam. As the spiritual leader of the town in an Islamic nation, he is pretty much above the civilian laws and can get away with almost anything in the name of Islam.

  • 14 votes
#1.6 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:53 AM EDT
Comment author avatarbiomojo-3726189Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

Christianity is just for stupid idiots. Atheism is the way to go and really know how to love others freely and without shame. Like most southern Christians, what isn;t like you..you destroy or subjugate because you are heathens. American freedom is a really big joke. Remember Eve Carson. That's why I am an born-again Atheist!

  • 2 votes
#1.7 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:55 AM EDT

@bio;

Atheism is the way to go and really know how to love others freely and without shame.

Well it seems by your post you need a bit of practice at it.lol I hope you are not the poster boy for atheistS.lol

@ JS in SD; Yes the Imams are the peratrators of the over zealous,unlawful, reactions against Christians in the ME. They use the ignorance of the people to fuel the hate against them. Old happening,different story.

  • 10 votes
#1.8 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:12 PM EDT

What if I said "Being an Atheist is for idiots". Well I guess if I said that I would be as bad as YOU. Us Christians are always in the news for Killing and torture right? I see you give the Muslims a free pass on this one!! Last I hear its the Christians doing all the fighting in the Middle East and not the Muslims.....Right?? So how is being a Christian being a stupid Idiot and how can you judge being an Athiest and all. My guess is you are 13 and your parents were not born in the USA.

  • 9 votes
#1.9 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:22 PM EDT

What Pakistan needs is their own version of "Hunger Games."

    #1.10 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:33 PM EDT

    Bio

    Christianity is just for stupid idiots

    As an Atheist myself I cannot and will not support this statement. You, my friend, are in the same intolerant boat you accuse Christians to be in. You are an Atheist? A Christian? A Muslim? so, good for you. The first thing we need to be aware of and practice is tolerance.

    Mac

    My guess is you are 13 and your parents were not born in the USA.

    My 11 year old daughter is perfectly clear on her beliefs, and is completely free to express them, age is of no importance. What does the place your parents where born has to do with anything? As often as you intolerant Christians say it, the USA is NOT a Christian Nation, it is a multiple belief nation, and as thus we need to preserve it. As a matter of fact, Christians, as you conceive them (i.e. non catholic) are a minority when the rest of us are added. Please do not criticize in others what you are doing.

    • 8 votes
    #1.11 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 1:14 PM EDT

    RamFla- The reason I said biomojo was probably 13 and parents were from another country is because that person reminds me of a 13 year old boy my son knew when he was growing up that was full of Hate and Drugs and basically his parents and everyone in his family were from another country and taught all of the family to hate Americans. My point is why are they here in the USA if they hate Americans. If it was soo good where they came from why didnt they stay and what made them so full of hate. I consider any religion that believes that Jesus Christ is Gods son to be Christian. Last I checked the Catholic and Mormons fall under this category. Point being Christian is a peaceful religion and if someone was not brought up the same way I am not mean to them and treat them with respect unless they disrespect me. Same with my favorite football team. If you like a different team than I like I wont hate you unless you are a RAIDERS FAN. Just Kidding

    • 2 votes
    #1.12 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 1:30 PM EDT

    biomojo-3726189

    Christianity is just for stupid idiots. Atheism is the way to go and really know how to love others freely and without shame. Like most southern Christians, what isn;t like you..you destroy or subjugate because you are heathens. American freedom is a really big joke. Remember Eve Carson. That's why I am an born-again Atheist!

    Obviously atheism is the way to go, People who were atheists have killed millions upon millions more then any religion in the world.

    Im not syaing that an atheist cant be a good person, but when you have no reference point to go back to , to determine what is good and evil , then your free to think what ever

      #1.13 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 2:00 PM EDT

      MSN: You are unbelievable, you write an article saying that sometime even the innocent are lynched and killed and that the authorities "whisked [her] to a waiting helicopter while covered with a sheet to protect her identity." So what do you do? You publish a picture of this 14 yr. old girl on a website that anyone in the world can see. If she is hurt, the blood is on your hands. Idiots.

      • 1 vote
      #1.14 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 3:11 PM EDT

      Marmaduke

      Religious people have also killed millions upon millions. People will do horrific things to one another regardless of their beliefs. The only difference is how they justify it.

      • 3 votes
      #1.15 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 3:42 PM EDT

      Chris-2476540

      Marmaduke

      Religious people have also killed millions upon millions. People will do horrific things to one another regardless of their beliefs. The only difference is how they justify it.

      Nothing as close as atheist regimes chris, you can google that. Religion pales in comparison to Atheists who have killed

        #1.16 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 4:23 PM EDT

        Marmaduke49 which atheist regimes are you referring to? Communism, fascism, capitalism and most other ideologies are built on the cult of personality, a political figure or founder of an idea raised to the level of divinity. Just different kinds of religions built on the foundations of fear, superstition and delusion. Atheists are just like all other human beings, imperfect and ignorant. But we've had little opportunity to go around murdering people who disagree with our ideas as we are too busy trying not to get murdered by theists. There aren’t yet enough of us to form an evil empire, but I don’t think atheists are scary enough to establish a terrorist network or mean enough to set up a dictatorship as we are just too dammed reasonable. I’ve yet to hear a mass murderer say “Darwin made me do it!”

          #1.17 - Sun Sep 9, 2012 10:07 AM EDT

          When Pakistan gets the resourses, (it will soon) they will be attacking us on our homeland. This will happen if we keep giving them our money and such. They are NOT our friends

            #1.18 - Mon Sep 10, 2012 5:47 AM EDT
            Reply

            Insanity in an insane and despicable World. Someone that would harm or murder Rimsha Masih for inane reasons such as this. No wonder the World has been and still is a hell of Human hatred, bigotry, misery and absolute mindless Peoples.

            • 8 votes
            Reply#2 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 10:03 AM EDT

            Coming soon to America??

            • 2 votes
            #2.1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:03 AM EDT

            it came to america a couple hundred years ago in salem.scared, angry, self rightious, religious a..holes ready to kill over accusations.

            • 7 votes
            #2.2 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:48 AM EDT

            Uh, it came to America 50 years ago, where black men (and sometimes women) were still being lynched for such evil crimes as whistling at a white woman.

            • 5 votes
            #2.3 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:03 PM EDT

            moomoo2, at least the Klan kept the Meth out of both communities. How is all that freedom doing for the communities down South? Black or White?

            I don't care much for racists on either side of the line, but now that the Blacks are free, what are "your" people doing with that freedom? Are you any better off?

              #2.4 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:23 PM EDT

              Meanwhile,
              Still happens today. More Americans believe that affirmation action is no longer necessary,
              Instead of leveling the playfield for minorities, it unfairly punishes
              whites. I don’t think a white guy would want to whistle at a Black Woman in
              Downtown LA. What do you think would happen in Compton?

              • 1 vote
              #2.5 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:41 PM EDT

              Mac, to be fair, I am all for equality, BUT sometimes that means that one should not be afraid to point out flaws in any group of people. I am tired of the constant "Lynchings" comments that were done before I was born. People need to look around at TODAY and if they really give a damn, they need to get off their asses and help.

              As for me, I am going to clean up infront of my house and get off the computer. Perhaps moomoo2 will be out today doing the same. Nothing makes for better communities than people trying to clean it up.

              • 2 votes
              #2.6 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 1:19 PM EDT
              Reply

              That is just fantastic- show a picture of the girl to the world so some religious psycho can better identify her and kill her- bravo Associated Press, well done all the in the name and glory of getting that news story.

              • 9 votes
              Reply#3 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 10:08 AM EDT

              Hey, it is all about getting the photo...now we can have a before photo to go with the after...the after being one where her head is caved in.

                #3.1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:20 PM EDT

                What the hell are you stupid reporters doing to show the face of that girl in that chopper???? Idiots....!!!!!! WTG, her blood will be on YOUR hands MORRONS......

                  #3.2 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:40 PM EDT

                  I know, the press couldn't care less if they get someone killed.

                    #3.3 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:55 PM EDT

                    Katygirl--I noticed the same thing!! WTF!!--and I rarely ever say WTF!!!!

                      #3.4 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 2:16 PM EDT
                      Reply

                      Such an AWESOME place to live!! Golly, if only every Country could run their Government from books of Fiction.

                      • 5 votes
                      Reply#4 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 10:55 AM EDT

                      Have you ever read a book? *crosses fingers*

                      • 1 vote
                      #4.1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:04 AM EDT

                      @katy;

                      These were my thoughts also as they showed her face through the window then gave her full name. The gender and age would have been enough. Please in the future do not help the lynch mob along. Use better judgement.

                      • 4 votes
                      #4.2 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:35 AM EDT
                      Comment author avatarMaster JosephExpand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

                      Christian zealots want to run the USA on another book of fiction they call the bible!

                      WTF

                      • 4 votes
                      #4.3 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:47 AM EDT

                      they should run america acording to "the satanic bible". and before you yell and scream at me like pakistani muslims,just read it first.some really good ideas.

                        #4.4 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:54 AM EDT
                        Comment author avatarMaster JosephExpand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

                        The key word in your statement is "some"!

                        Look at the Gnostic Bible...same thing. SOME! Any so called "holy book"....SOME!

                        "Religion poisons everything" - Christopher Hitchens

                        • 4 votes
                        #4.5 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:04 PM EDT

                        On 15 December 2011, Christopher Hitchens died from pneumonia, a complication of his cancer.

                        I guess he now wishes he wasn't an atheist, right?

                          #4.6 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 4:11 PM EDT

                          I guess he now wishes he wasn't an atheist, right?

                          No, he can't wish for anything. He's dead. The dead can't do anything, for they are dead.

                          I've seen this line of thinking a thousand times: "I'll believe just in case it's true, then I'll be saved."

                          Don't you think a god who can create something from nothing would know if you truly believed in him or not? Also, if I can do right by my fellow man and go to hell because I don't see any reason to attribute our lives to a great creator; then I'm fine with that.

                            #4.7 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 5:01 PM EDT

                            Unless god is a moron! hahahahaha

                              #4.8 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 8:05 PM EDT
                              Reply

                              Pakistan needs to educate its population instead of feeding the frenzy of religious bigotry. Eventually these people are gonna realise they are being played by their leaders and then they will really be pissed off. Unless the government decides it wants to join the 21st century and makes an attempt to correct the education of their people there is little hope it will ever pull itself out of the gutter of poverty and into the modern world.

                                Reply#5 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:00 AM EDT

                                @ elaine...What you are stating is "In a Perfect World" and it is far from it and never will be. The Government of Pakistan could care less about educating their peoples when they can control them with Religious rhetoric and tyranny. The 21st Century? They are still in the Dark Ages because of their laws and beliefs. There is little or NO hope when Leaders have power over Peoples and do exactly what they wish because they can. The people are so afraid because of these beliefs and will do exactly as told because of a book that another Human has written. The best advice I can give everyone is not to trod on others and try and make the World a better place to live in.

                                • 3 votes
                                #5.1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:16 AM EDT

                                well stated Alan, what Americans need to understand is that Islam, which includes the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, teach from earliest childhood from the Qur'an. Everything they need to know comes from the Qur'an. In the Islamic school or madrasah the student is taught to memorize the Qur'an. The Islamic prayer, then continues to reinforce the brainwashing of the population with the demands to repeat their allegiance to Allah, throughout the rest of their lives.

                                They are educated, very well educated, so long as it comes from the book, and that's all they need to know and for most, that's all they do know.

                                If anything should happen to this little girl, it will only bring joy to Islam, they don't give a tinker's damn that the whole thing was a trumped up charge from an Imam. Given the opportunity, the girl will be killed by the Muslim believers and the Christian community will be wiped out.

                                So, how do we deal with that? Well, who cares, it's just another little girl, right?

                                • 6 votes
                                #5.2 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:36 PM EDT

                                Last
                                I checked our government is encouraging the media in the United States to talk
                                bad about Christians and talk Good about the people who like to kill others for
                                burning pieces of paper from a book. Most of us whose families came here long
                                ago to escape government bias of religion are now seeing this happening here in
                                the USA. Pretty SAD but this has happened around the Globe since the beginning
                                of time. We should all be free to believe what we want and not have someone
                                post negative in the media about Christians when the article was about a
                                Christian little girl being persecuted and framed by a group of Evil People who
                                are not Christian.

                                • 2 votes
                                #5.3 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 1:04 PM EDT

                                Oh, really? Let's see those stories, because all I see are evangelicals trying to erase separation of church and state and disrespecting everyone who doesn't agree with their version of events. I was born and raised a Christian, but I've come along way from the brainwashing I received. I've actually studied other religions and incorporated some of those beliefs...although I don't include Islam in that spectrum. I am unfortunately still in Texas, where there is very little difference between Muslims and a lot of the fundamentalist Christians I know....excepting the name of their prophet. Funny thing is that Jesus was nothing like the warlord/merchant/politician Muslims follow and made it extremely clear he wasn't interested in politics...an example I wish his followers would follow. If Christians have the faith that they maintain that they have, they'll keep their personal beliefs out of the political and scientific arena and show a little respect for those with whom they disagree; only then will they gain the respect they're seeking.

                                • 1 vote
                                #5.4 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 1:58 PM EDT

                                Deana C. - How can you label Christians as being so
                                into Politics? Are you saying that if someone is a Christian they should not be
                                allowed to be in politics? I think you are labeling all Conservatives as Christian by mistake.

                                • 1 vote
                                #5.5 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 2:28 PM EDT

                                How many 1000's of years have the Muslims been killing each other and others in the middle East basically over Evil?

                                • 2 votes
                                #5.6 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 2:34 PM EDT

                                Mac-5

                                If you're trying to deny that "Christians" are actively seeking to turn their particular brand of "morality" into United States law through the legislative process, you're either

                                A) Not paying attention.

                                B) Part of the effort

                                or

                                C) Ten years old

                                Which is it?

                                • 3 votes
                                #5.7 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 2:37 PM EDT

                                Apparently, you don't live in Texas. I am talking about conservative Christians and of course I'm not saying that anyone shouldn't be allowed to be in politics. Talk about twisting words around! I consider myself a Christian (among other things) and I vote like anyone else...although I'm frequently embarrassed to call myself that and many fundamentalists would disagree with me. I mean the attempt to hijack the government by certain Christian elements and if you are denying that attempt, you are either blind or attempting to delude yourself or others.

                                • 1 vote
                                #5.8 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 2:42 PM EDT

                                Deanna C.-

                                In God We Trust!!

                                I’m 44 and have lived in Texas and Southern California and currently San Diego but haven’t seen what you are talking about unless you are watching 700 Club or something that I don’t watch on TV. I’m proud to be a Christian. I can only speak for myself but I'm better than no one
                                else and admit that I make mistakes daily but can only do my best and ask to be
                                forgiven after I realize I screw up. I think what makes so many people hate
                                Christians is so many people think of Arrogance and people who think they are
                                better than other people when they think of Christians for some reason. Its
                                almost like when you have a really bad day and are in a bad mood and see
                                someone smiling and it just pisses you off. So what do you have to say about
                                that?

                                • 1 vote
                                #5.9 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 3:14 PM EDT

                                proud to be a christian huh? theres alot of "proud" christians.so full of pride.you sound typical.pride cometh before a fall.

                                • 1 vote
                                #5.10 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 3:23 PM EDT

                                Once again, you're either blind or deluded. Maybe you don't believe that you have the right to tell others how to live their lives or have the government do it for you, but I'm literally surrounded by people who do. Please don't try to deny my reality for me; I'm not making this up.

                                  #5.11 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 3:25 PM EDT

                                  If you're trying to deny that "Christians" are actively seeking to turn their particular brand of "morality" into United States law through the legislative process, you're either

                                  A) Not paying attention. B) Part of the effort C) Ten years old

                                  Actually it is the other way around. These ideals were always in society. It is only the leftist who want to inflict their morality on the rest of the world. For instance, why should anyone have to pay for another's person's abortion? Why should anyone have to pay for another person's birth control?

                                  That's like saying taxpayers should have to pay for someone else's cigarettes.

                                  All these things are inflicted upon the American public and it costs the taxpayer's money. These are people's personal choices and it wrong to make everyone else take the responsiblity for it. This is seen in the majority not in christian households, but those that want to inflict their " new kind of morality".

                                  • 1 vote
                                  #5.12 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 4:28 PM EDT

                                  For instance, why should anyone have to pay for another person's abortion? Why should anyone have to pay for another person's birth control?

                                  Eat Republican BS much? Using your logic, I shouldn't have to pay for anything concerning women'shealth since I'm a man. The idea is that we all pay in. Some will use more resources, others less and the insurance companies will be rolling in the doe (doh)?

                                  Let's look at car insurance in this context. I should not have to pay for somebody else to get help when they go to the hospital after a car accident. It's against my beliefs (hypothetically) to have a doctor care for you or for you to go to the hospital. So, why should part of my car insurance be used for that purpose? Or maybe my beliefs don't support people who drive red cars? Do you see where I'm going with this? You could endlessly come up with stuff that people don't think they should be paying for.

                                  When you use a religious belief as a method to promote your "morality", then you are probably going down the wrong road. If you are against abortion and contraception that's fine; but allow people that want to live in a rational world access to birth control. I DO NOT condone abortion except in extreme cases. Forcing an unloved, unwanted child into the world is about the worst thing you can do.

                                    #5.13 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 5:32 PM EDT
                                    Reply

                                    This is what you get when a country bases its laws on some religious book. Keep that in mind the next time you hear someone proclaiming that U.S. laws are and should be based on the bible.

                                    • 7 votes
                                    Reply#6 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:22 AM EDT

                                    There are a lot of Americans that say the USA is a Christian nation - which it IS NOT!

                                    Christians are constantly pushing their beliefs on the nation by attempting to change the laws and the constitution of the USA.

                                    • 5 votes
                                    #6.1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:06 PM EDT

                                    "Master" you're not trying to push your beliefs on all of us by commenting on an article about Islam by bashing Christians? Give me a break. You're no better than those you shout down.

                                    • 2 votes
                                    #6.2 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:59 PM EDT

                                    Master Joseph, be happy you live in a Christian Nation and not a Totalitarian State, otherwise, you would be sent to the showers and end up as a bar of soap for being so critical.

                                    • 2 votes
                                    #6.3 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 1:05 PM EDT

                                    Master Joseph and jwight01 want to tear pages from the Qur'an and make them cigarettes

                                      #6.4 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 1:17 PM EDT

                                      I think you've got it backwards; complaining about having christian views forced on us is not bashing christianity, simply asking to be left alone. BTW, totalitarianism and what passes for christianity in the U.S. today have more than a few things in common.

                                      Mac-5, off your meds again?

                                      • 3 votes
                                      #6.5 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 1:20 PM EDT

                                      So jwight01 so who is pushing Christian views on you? Are you listening to those voices in your head again?? Just saying..... It was your own choice to click on this article so you could see what happened to the little Christian Girl who was framed in a Muslim Country by Evil Men.

                                        #6.6 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 1:47 PM EDT

                                        jwight01 The united States Of America was, is and always will be a Christian nation. We were founded on Christian princeples, our first laws were based on Christian princeples, so don't like it you are free move to any country of your choice or to stay here and worship or not the choice is yours. Just remeber if you move you would not have that freedom of religion (or freedom from religion) any more, for in Afganistain or any other muslin country they would kill you for being a non believer............

                                        • 2 votes
                                        #6.7 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 1:55 PM EDT

                                        jParis

                                        Incorrect. Completely.

                                        The United States of America never was, is not now, and never will be a Christian nation. The men who designed our system of government PURPOSELY set it up to stop the poison that is religious influence from ever gaining a foothold in our government. We are a purely secular nation, made up of citizens who can believe, worship, and practice anything they want, and still be completely equal under our laws.

                                        The argument that our laws are based on "Christian" principles is invalid, as the principles used to form our laws are all based on basic human rights and ideals that predate Christianity by thousands of years, as they were debated in Western civilizations such as Greece and Rome. Men such as Pliny, Plutarch, and Aristotle first wrote and spoke of the sovereign rights and dignity of man many, many, years before the birth of Christ. For that matter, even the Jewish faith documents rules and guidelines for how to treat your fellow man, again, centuries before the rise of Christianity.

                                        So stop pushing your particular cult as the one that inspired this new system on the face of Earth. It's JUST NOT TRUE.

                                        • 3 votes
                                        #6.8 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 2:48 PM EDT

                                        Mac, I have people trying to enforce their particular Christian views on me all the time and I'm a Christian ! It's called conversion and I'm sure you've heard of it; if you aren't of their religion,sect, cult, opinion or particular place of worship, they'll do everything in their power to change your mind. At least they aren't torturing and killing anymore to achieve their aims. Jesus Christ never tried to force anything on anyone, but he wasn't in it for the money.

                                        • 1 vote
                                        #6.9 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 3:17 PM EDT

                                        @ J Paris - The United States was NOT founded on Christian principles....were you absent the day they taught history in your school? Agno is dead on....take a lesson from him/her.

                                        • 2 votes
                                        #6.10 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 3:29 PM EDT

                                        Agno and Keastral. From the Declaration of Independence "God entitle them" "that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights" . Also above the Supreme Court are the "TEN COMMANDMENT" on our money are the words "IN GOD WE TRUST" When being swore in the words "SO HELP ME GOD" A soldier swears to "Protect GOD and COUNTRY"

                                        So don't tell me this great country was not founded on Christian Principe's. Yes ancient civilisations talk of human rights but none followed them. They were almost all ruled by people that thought they were gods and their word was law.

                                        Again I say if you don't like living in a Christian Nation feel free to move to a Muslim, communist,or any other nation of your choice aand see if you can post your nonsense. I am sure they will let you put down the United States of America and say it is not a Christian Nation, however I seriously doubt you will be able to say they are not a Muslim or communist country.

                                        And be sure and thank the Veterans for your freedom to spout your stupid ideas.

                                          #6.11 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 4:22 PM EDT

                                          J Paris.....they never said WHICH creator. For all you know, they could have been referencing the Christian God, Allah (God help us), Pan, Adonis or a host of others...you were not there. BUT, owing to the beliefs of the time, they most likely were talking about a Christian God.

                                          Ancient civilizations talk of human rights but none followed them? Oh really? The ancients knew and followed human rights far more than any Christian did. Now if you are talking feudal Japan, then I would agree. But... I will type this slowly so you can follow me...remember something called the "crusades?"

                                          I am a pagan, and proud to be one. In MY view, the Christian God was a local deity....and one that just happened to go through anger management between the Old and New Testaments. You, my friend, need to read just a bit more closely. I never did "put down" the United States. I have disagreements with a good many of it's policies, as is my right. Just for your information....pay attention here....I served in the military. I served in a hostile area. I did not serve in combat, however I did witness "live fire" and treat "live fire" wounds. So I have EARNED this right to "spout" my "stupid ideas." When I swore my oath, it was to no Christian God...I gaurantee you that. To you and all like you who belive there is a constitutional madate to separate church and state, go back to school. The constitution mandates there will be no state sponsored religion....which the government that I SERVED so blatantly disregards by putting that BS on their promisary notes. I won't even get into the BS about the "Ten Commandments" at Sublime Court.

                                          This is NOT a Christian nation....it is a nation of MANY religions....all bad because as I have said before, religion is man-made, faith is divine inspired. And if you want me to go to hell for that, you go first, it is your hell and not mine.

                                          Even after my rant, I wish you all the peace and wonder the universe has to offer you. May the Creator bless you....I sure as hell won't.

                                          • 1 vote
                                          #6.12 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 6:02 PM EDT
                                          Reply

                                          I just don't understand the need to burn another faith's holy book.....I mean I'm a Christian and I dont feel the need to deface someone else's beliefs, let alone in a place where you know you can be killed for it...there is too much "martyr sensationalism" in today's Christianity...it's like people go out of their way to try and be martyred. Jesus did not teach blatant disrespect. I hope to God this girl makes it through this alive and my prayers are with her, but it really wasnt a very good idea.

                                          • 2 votes
                                          Reply#7 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:22 AM EDT

                                          She is a 14 year old child with diminished capacity plus there is some proof that she was framed by another Religious fanatic. Please next time read what really happened. She still could be murdered by other fanatics.

                                          Masih was accused by Muslim neighbors of burning Islamic religious texts and arrested, but police recently said a cleric had been taken into custody after witnesses reported he had torn pages from a Koran and planted them in Masih's bag beside burned papers.

                                          • 5 votes
                                          #7.1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:31 AM EDT

                                          Learn something about this situation and Muslims. She is a pubescent retarded girl who was set up by an imam. Why he set her up is probably another lengthy story. Knowing imams and other Muslim males, it's probably about sex. He probably wants to have sex with her, has had sex with her, has raped her, wants her in prison so she can be raped, something. It's always about violence, sex and death with Muslims. She probably didn't do anything at all. This sort of sh*t happens all over the Caliphate every day for at least 1,400 years. Some of it makes the news, most doesn't.

                                          • 7 votes
                                          #7.2 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:29 PM EDT

                                          Maybe she only burned some of those pages to stay warm or to have a little light while they were keeping her in a very dark place? Or they were tempting her with THEIR book? And giving her acces to be able to make a fire?

                                          • 1 vote
                                          #7.3 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:44 PM EDT
                                          Reply

                                          Yay! I'm glad she's been released! Steps in the right direction.

                                          Course it's awesome how they attempted to protect her identity for safety, but the US news has no problem plastering her name all over the place. Hopefully she is able to stay safe.

                                          • 5 votes
                                          Reply#8 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:25 AM EDT

                                          I would never burn pages from the koran. I would wipe my ass with thm first then piss on it

                                          • 4 votes
                                          Reply#9 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:25 AM EDT

                                          Why not? It's just paper. It cracks me up that Islam is so against "idolatry", but they treat any scrap of paper with Qu'ranic writing on it as if it were the Golden Calf of Biblical fame . . .

                                          • 2 votes
                                          #9.1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 2:53 PM EDT
                                          Reply

                                          This is a country that the Obama's administion in 2012 spent $20 million in for the development of a children's TV program that turned out to be corrupt.

                                          This is how Obama is getting his spending under control?

                                          • 2 votes
                                          Reply#10 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:26 AM EDT

                                          U.S. Assistance to Pakistan

                                          The U.S. Congress passed the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act (often
                                          referred to as “Kerry-Lugar-Berman,” or “KLB,” after its co-sponsors) in October
                                          2009 in order to demonstrate the U.S.’ long-term commitment to cooperation with
                                          the Pakistani people and their civilian institutions. Between 2009 and August
                                          2012, the U.S. disbursed approximately $2.9 billion in civilian assistance to
                                          Pakistan, including almost $1 billion of emergency humanitarian assistance
                                          following the 2010 and 2011 floods.

                                          http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3453.htm

                                          U.S. civilian assistance to Pakistan is focused on five priority areas:
                                          energy; economic growth, including agriculture; stabilization, mainly of the
                                          border areas; education, and health. These areas were determined in consultation
                                          with the Government of Pakistan. The U.S. implements programs with Pakistani
                                          partners, including the Government of Pakistan and private sector actors, when
                                          practical, to increase local capacity and sustainability of efforts.

                                          • 2 votes
                                          #10.1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:01 PM EDT
                                          Reply

                                          The little girl is a Christian in a Islamic country, that's it. Pakistan used to be a fairly safe place, but now that radical Islamics are beginning to take control, Christians again become the targets, as in most Islamic countries. What is the most hated thing among Radical Muslims? The Bible, because it advocates the truth of Jesus Christ our Saviour. The free gift of salvation, not of works, but of Grace through faith.

                                          There is still hope:


                                          For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

                                          John 3:16

                                            Reply#11 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:35 AM EDT

                                            This from another "holy book" containing the words of a sky spirit - written by inspired MEN. All fiction.

                                            For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

                                            John 3:16

                                            • 2 votes
                                            #11.1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:59 AM EDT

                                            Joseph

                                            Hebrew name Ö¹ (Yosef)
                                            meaning "he will add"

                                            He will add to you eternal life, when you believe.

                                            I will pray that God opens your heart to the Truth, he did it with Paul, He can do it with you.

                                            • 1 vote
                                            #11.2 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:20 PM EDT

                                            Ed...I'm an educated intelligent 70 year old. I've already gone through all that god stuff starting from the time I was born and raised a Catholic.

                                            I've found that Buddhism says it best: ALL IS GOD AND THERE IS NO GOD.

                                            I'd like to suggest that you read up on Buddhism...not the religious Buddhism - it is as silly as the rest - but on the teachings. Also try this book by Christopher Hitchens: "god is not Great. How Religion Poisons Everything"

                                            Pax vobiscum :)

                                            • 4 votes
                                            #11.3 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:46 PM EDT

                                            THOU art God, Master Joseph.

                                            Waterbrother. Drink deep, never thirst.

                                              #11.4 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 2:56 PM EDT
                                              Reply

                                              the fanatics will try to get her and finish her off.

                                              • 1 vote
                                              Reply#12 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:36 AM EDT

                                              There are rougly 1.5 Billion Muslims in the world today.

                                              We need to knock a few zeros off that number!

                                              Honestly, it's the only thing these filthy, living-in-the-Middle-Ages beasts understand...

                                              • 1 vote
                                              Reply#13 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:38 AM EDT

                                              No doubt there are lots of religious people right here in the USA that would like to see the same kinds of laws imposed against people that would burn their "holy book". Religions cause most of the problems in the world!

                                              Christians would like to forget about the Inquisition! Now they point the finger at Islam. The problems of the world are founded in all religions. Believing in a "god" doesn't make it true.

                                              • 5 votes
                                              Reply#14 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:42 AM EDT

                                              amen joe.christians,muslims,crips,bloods, whats the difference really?

                                              • 3 votes
                                              #14.1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:58 AM EDT

                                              Joseph

                                              Someday Christ Himself will return, and the whole world will be under His just rule.

                                              Those that deliberately reject His free gift of salvation, will have a place, they have prepared for themselves, with Satan. Hell will not be a place of only separation from God. It will be a place of utter darkness, and the fire of knowing that you put yourself there for eternity, no friends to see, just screams of torment.

                                              God is just, and sin seperates us from Him. Only Jesus Christ's sacrifice will take away the stain of our sin.

                                              Read John 3:16

                                                #14.2 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:37 PM EDT

                                                so its not loving god or jesus or following any of their teachings.its saving your ass from hell.well,its a very selfish motivating force,but ya gotta start somewhere i suppose.i think god could see through such people.i know i can.oh, by the way im born again.hahahahaha.but you personally might mean well.but most are not like you.and those are the ones i personally cant stand.take care of yourself.peace.

                                                • 1 vote
                                                #14.3 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:46 PM EDT

                                                Ed....Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) said why waste your time trying to understand all that...so people settle for BELIEF!

                                                Everyone is suffering! He laid out a path to relieve that suffering. It has nothing to do with any "god". He was a man. An enlighten man...but a man. The path isn't easy, but it has been shown to work.

                                                Again...they (organized Buddhists) have made a religion out of his teachings, which has screwed it all up, just as he said it would!

                                                Another book: Stephen Batchlor: "Buddhism Without Belief".

                                                Walk on!

                                                pax vobiscum :)

                                                  #14.4 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:55 PM EDT

                                                  Fact- Jesus Christ suffered and died on the Cross when he had no SIN in his
                                                  life EVER. Anyone who accepts he paid the price for them won’t have to pay
                                                  for sin after our death here on earth. No one forces anyone to believe anything
                                                  but for me it’s worth a Chance to believe vs the other option. I have had many
                                                  blessings and prayers answered in my life that have proven to me beyond a shadow of a
                                                  doubt that God and Jesus Christ do exist.

                                                    #14.5 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 2:15 PM EDT

                                                    Not believing in God doesn't make him false. Everyone believes in God sooner or later. But later is too late for some. 70 years old... you're no spring chicken.

                                                    • 1 vote
                                                    #14.6 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 2:22 PM EDT

                                                    FACT: the third little pigs house didnt get blown down by the evil wolf.i would rather have brick house so the evil wolf cant get me as oppose to the alternitive.fear much?

                                                    • 1 vote
                                                    #14.7 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 2:40 PM EDT

                                                    Im a Christian....I follow Jesus you could burn a stack of bibles and I wouldnt freak out...the scriptures have been tainted by man anyhow. People put to much of their faith into books and close themselves to true spiritual guidance that comes from God....and even though my path is Christianity I truly believe all faith driven paths lead to God.

                                                    • 2 votes
                                                    #14.8 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 3:35 PM EDT

                                                    Oh, Gypsymaggy! No one could have said it better!

                                                      #14.9 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 3:45 PM EDT
                                                      Reply

                                                      If ever there was a case to be made for granting political asylum to the US this would be it. Get her and her family out of the nut farm.

                                                      • 4 votes
                                                      Reply#15 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:43 AM EDT

                                                      Why was she released? So shell have more opportunity to burn more holy books? I tell you, they're getting way too sentimental nowadays in some part of Paki...

                                                      • 3 votes
                                                      Reply#16 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:44 AM EDT

                                                      @ roughster....Are you for real? Have you not read about this case and the fanatics that would kill a 14 year old child that probably was framed by another Religious fanatic. She was released because there was bail for a 14 year old child. Your point is???????? Yeah I didn't think so because it was exactly that.....Pointless and bigoted!

                                                        #16.1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:51 AM EDT

                                                        Alan? This society sets its laws and who ever inhabits it should abide by it, unjust as it may seems to you. This, this "girl" should've been on her 2nd arranged marriage already at her age. Those Christians girls are just trouble man...

                                                        • 3 votes
                                                        #16.2 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:04 PM EDT

                                                        1. Their laws don't say she should be murdered by the next door neighbor because of some Book.

                                                        2. Your either demented with your despicable comments or trying to bate me into a debate in which you have already been crushed by your inane remarks.

                                                        3. I'm done with it. Others can see what you really are. They can base their own opinions on your posting.

                                                        • 1 vote
                                                        #16.3 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:15 PM EDT

                                                        Good point, Roughy! Those christian girls can be a real handful.

                                                          #16.4 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:30 PM EDT

                                                          They are just messing with you Alan.

                                                            #16.5 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 2:46 PM EDT

                                                            Hey, folks, I think the roughster is being sarcastic...

                                                            On a more serious note--my prayers are with this little girl and her family, and the Christian community as a whole there. My prayers are also with the moderate Muslims who want it to be different there than it unfortunately is. The battle between the moderate Muslims and the extremists is not new--it happened centuries ago and unfortunately the extremists won, and so ended the Golden Age of Islam.

                                                            I also pray for the extremist Muslims, that somehow their eyes would be opened to see what they are REALLY doing--that they would see how WRONG they are, and recognize that what they are doing is evil. Specifically, I pray that if extremists DO murder this child, that God will do to them what He did to Saul of Tarsus---and if any extremists are reading this--haha--I know that you would rather die than to experience the 'Saul to Paul' phenomenon. So there, I've said it--be forewarned extremists!

                                                            There, I verbalized my Christian beliefs. I also wish to say this, since there is the debate going on between religious folks and atheist folks: Any belief system or world view can be misused. Christianity certainly has been misused--so has Atheism. Stalin was definitely an Atheist. And various Monarchs and religious leaders throughout history have misused whatever religion/world view they were born into. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. That is why our founding fathers first and foremost believed in balance of power, with most of the power being localized and seated within the individual. Quite frankly, I do not want to live in a theocracy, because that has the potential to become what our founding fathers were trying to get away from. I want to be free to choose. And whatever your belief/world view is, if you practice it in a broader context of compassion and respect for others differences, then I don't have a problem with you, whether you are religious or atheist.

                                                            • 1 vote
                                                            #16.6 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 3:09 PM EDT
                                                            Reply

                                                            Why do we dump billions into a country that is obviously a mess AND seems to hate us as well? I really doubt if it is because of the road they provide to Afganistan. More than likely it is simply payoff money so that Pakistan wont continue to have wars with India which is where most of our Fortune 500 companies call their second home. I am just damn proud as an American that my tax dollars are supporting the executive teams of all these companies that "trickle down" on us.

                                                              Reply#17 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:45 AM EDT

                                                              p.s. NBC...why the hell are you showing the girl's face? Isn't it even slightly obvious to you that she's in grave danger and nut cases the world over now know what she looks like. Get the damn picture of her face off the site...it's of no value to the larger story.

                                                              • 5 votes
                                                              Reply#18 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:47 AM EDT

                                                              Released so she can be killed by militants bent on their
                                                              brand of justice. Political problem solved by government as a dead defendant
                                                              cannot be tried...

                                                              • 3 votes
                                                              Reply#19 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 11:55 AM EDT

                                                              1. Some posters seem as intolerant and violent as the Pakastanis. And remember an American idiot recently attacked a house of worship... and the people were not even Moslems. That's how stupid Americans can get.

                                                              2. Notice the 'government' / courts let her go. But the article said that often the people 'lynch' them anyway. If they like it like that, so be it. But remember, quite a few people knew what Hitler was up to and turned a blind eye, so 'ignoring' a horrific situation is not the answer either.

                                                              3. In America, a couple of mischevious liitle girls accused a woman of witchcraft; they burned her. It started the Salem Witch Trials. Thousands of innocent women died horribly. And religious intolerance is RAMPANT in America. Throwing stones at other people's religious practices is stupid when this SAME type of behavior is happening in your backyard. I knew a couple who divorced because her fundamentalist Baptist religion believed in 'sprinkle' baptism and his fundamentalist Baptist religion believed in 'dunking' baptism. Go figure.

                                                              4. The separation of church and state is a fundamental principle from the founding fathers in America. They knew what and why they emphasized this principle. Yet I can't buy beer on Sunday. I have to tolerate Manger scenes at Christmas on government property. I have to lump it that church schools are given MY tax money. The list is endless.... So before you whine about the Koran being used as the basis of govenment, remember we still 'proudly' adhere to 'In God We Trust'...all over the place and in my face and out of my pocketbook. I'll defend your right to worship as you choose, but don't impose your bs on me and make me pay for it.

                                                              5. A 14 year old girl doesn't truly understand the consequences of her actions. Look, once again, to the parents. She got the intolerance from somewhere. I do hope she survives this, but I doubt it, and we probably won't get news of her death by lynching. But humans are like that. You don't conform to the majority they will bully you in one way or another. It's as old as human history.

                                                              So what's the solution? The ultimate solution is to sweep your side of the street, and there is plenty of garbage to clean.

                                                              • 2 votes
                                                              Reply#20 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:01 PM EDT

                                                              Grab your pitchfork and torch, Dawn! Lets burn that manger down!!!

                                                              • 1 vote
                                                              #20.1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:25 PM EDT

                                                              If I didn't pay for it, I don't mind it at all. On church property... fine and dandy. Paid for by my taxes and put on the front lawn of the town hall? nope.

                                                              • 1 vote
                                                              #20.2 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:38 PM EDT

                                                              And God loves self-righteous equivocators. So do Muslims. She doesn't have "intolerance". She's a retarded pubescent girl. An imam set her up. If she had "intolerance" she got it from Islam. Sheesh, you sanctimonious, brain-dead dhimmis make me ill.

                                                              • 1 vote
                                                              #20.3 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:42 PM EDT
                                                              Reply

                                                              Lets ship sandra fluke over there ...within a day she will be stoned.

                                                                Reply#21 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:07 PM EDT

                                                                Excellent, msn.com print her picture for the world to see even though she's been trying to hide her face from would-be lynchers. [That was sarcasm.]

                                                                  Reply#22 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:21 PM EDT

                                                                  god,save me from your followers.lol. what a sad,savage species of creature we are.all hail religion! and if you dont, we will kill you! im just glad there are people who have woken up from this mental disease.only a couple billion more to go.

                                                                  • 4 votes
                                                                  Reply#23 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:24 PM EDT

                                                                  ... and this is why we can't make progress as a species. Some people are too worried about the sanctity of their sacred book (Hey! I'm talking to some of you Christians too!); instead of concentrating on real problems like social class inequality, problems caused by climate change and women's rights.

                                                                    #23.1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 4:50 PM EDT
                                                                    Reply

                                                                    And you stupid MORRONS post a picture from her face inside this helicopter???? What the HELL is wrong with you...??????????

                                                                    • 2 votes
                                                                    Reply#24 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:35 PM EDT

                                                                    Religion, the curse of the human species. It will be the cause of the end of human life on earth.

                                                                    If the human race can't get past superstition, fairy tales, bigotry and hatred, because YOUR God is the REAL GOD and everyone else is wrong, there is no hope for survival.

                                                                    There is NO god. Religion is EVIL.

                                                                    • 2 votes
                                                                    Reply#25 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 12:44 PM EDT

                                                                    @ Tulp; Yes I said the same thing with a little more eloquence,lol, but yes I wondered the same thing.

                                                                      #25.1 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 3:11 PM EDT

                                                                      You are partly right...all religion is "evil" because religion is man made; faith is divine inspired.

                                                                      • 1 vote
                                                                      #25.2 - Sat Sep 8, 2012 3:37 PM EDT
                                                                      Reply
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