Blasphemy bail hearing delayed

A court in Pakistan has delayed the bail hearing of a young Christian girl accused of blasphemy until Saturday, September 1.

Earlier this month, Rishma Masih was accused of throwing out garbage that included burnt pages from the Koran.

She was arrested and thrown in jail where she is awaiting a trial.

There are conflicting reports about the girls age and mental state. Her family has said she is 14 and mentally ill. But a police official said she is 16 and mentally sound.

A lawyer for the man who accused her said Thursday that his client wants to dispute the medical records claiming the girl is 14.

Pakistan's strict blasphemy laws, punishable by death, have drawn world wide criticism by human rights groups.

Critics of the law say vague terminology and convictions that hinge on witness testimony have led to the law being misused.

(Soundbite)(ENGLISH) TAHIRA ABDULLAH, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, SAYING:

"This will go on and on and this little minor girl will rot in jail. We want her out of jail. We want her under protection."

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ANALYST AND COLUMNIST, AYAZ AMIR, SAYING:

"When such an incident happens and there are no responsible people in the community who could come forward, and check this thing from blowing up or when there is a failure of administration then you have such a thing happen."

Christians make up four percent of Pakistan's population of 180 million.