An 8-year-old Hindu boy recently became the youngest Pakistani prosecuted for blasphemy in the country's history.
The child is accused of intentionally urinating on a carpet in the library of a madrassa in Rahim Yar Khan district in July.
This room in the Koranic school housed religious works, says
The Guardian
.
The case generated great tension and violence.
Hindu temple attacked
The release on bail of the young accused last week has indeed created controversy.
A crowd of angry Muslims then attacked a Hindu temple dedicated to Ganesh in Bhong.
Images of the attack circulated on social media.
The police arrested this Saturday 20 people suspected of having participated in the ransacking.
The army was deployed to maintain order.
Many Hindu families have fled Rahim Yar Khan district for fear of being targeted.
The little boy's family went into hiding.
The child was taken into police custody for his protection.
Punishable by death
Blasphemy has been punishable by death since 1986 in Pakistan. If no execution for this offense has however taken place since, the accused persons are regularly victims of punitive attacks and several have been lynched. Human rights activist Kapil Dev has called on the government to drop the charges against the little boy and ensure the safety of his loved ones and other families forced to leave their homes.
"Attacks on Hindu temples have been more numerous in recent years, showing a rise in extremism and fanaticism", he denounced, referring to "a new wave of persecution".
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan "strongly condemned" the attack on the Bhong temple on Thursday on Twitter.
He called for “the arrest of all the culprits” and “actions against police negligence”.
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