London-Based Charity Calls Dropped Blasphemy Charges Against 9-Year-Old A 'Miracle'

The London-based charity British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA) has stepped in to save the life of a 9-year-old boy who was accused of burning the Koran. 

The Pakistani authorities have dropped blasphemy charges against a boy identified as Izhan, and his mother Shakil, who were both detained by police. 

Izhan was at school when he was accused of having burned a Quran on Oct. 20. He and his mother were arrested shortly after the allegation without any investigation.

"A Muslim witness is given higher authority than non-Muslim testimonies under Sharia law, these are Islamic laws that determine Pakistani law," wrote the BPCA.

Both the mother and son have said that they were tortured during their detainment. They did not, however, confess to the blasphemy.  Police have confirmed that there is no evidence of any burned Koran.

The news sparked community outrage. The BPCA and other humanitarian groups stepped in to demand the release of the mother and son. 

In what the BPCA is calling a miracle, authorities dropped the charges against them both four days after their arrest.

"This is the first blasphemy charge, in my recollection, that has been dropped. The law states that bail does not apply for blasphemy charges and that crimes once registered should be (tried) in court," BPCA Chairman Wilson Chowdhry told the Christian Post. "There is no room for the dropping of charges."

"This unusual situation is the result of serious campaigning by groups such as the BPCA and politicians such as Asiya Nasir and her Muslim colleagues," he added.

Chowdry said that Muslim politicians who joined forces with Christians helped to influence their case so quickly.

"If more Muslim politicians were willing to support Christians in this way many lives could be saved from the ignominy of blasphemy charges," he said.