Vatican City: French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran on Saturday went to the defence of the young Pakistani girl accused of blasphemy, stressing that she "cannot read or write."
Interviewed on Radio Vatican, Tauran, who is in charge of interfaith dialogue in the Vatican, said "that before asserting a sacred text has been the object of scorn, it is worth checking the facts."
Rimsha, aged 11 to 16 according to different reports, is accused of burning pages from a children's religious instruction book inscribed with verses from the Quran, Islam's holy book. She was arrested and remanded in custody last Thursday.
"The more serious and tense the situation, the more necessary it is to have dialogue," added the cardinal, who was the late pope John Paul II's foreign minister.
The youngster reportedly has Down's Syndrome and her arrest has prompted outrage from rights groups and concern from Western governments.
Interviewed on Radio Vatican, Tauran, who is in charge of interfaith dialogue in the Vatican, said "that before asserting a sacred text has been the object of scorn, it is worth checking the facts."
Rimsha, aged 11 to 16 according to different reports, is accused of burning pages from a children's religious instruction book inscribed with verses from the Quran, Islam's holy book. She was arrested and remanded in custody last Thursday.
"The more serious and tense the situation, the more necessary it is to have dialogue," added the cardinal, who was the late pope John Paul II's foreign minister.
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The youngster reportedly has Down's Syndrome and her arrest has prompted outrage from rights groups and concern from Western governments.
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