France is especially concerned by the situation of a Pakistani girl who has been detained since Thursday on blasphemy charges. It welcomes the Pakistani president’s determination to shed full light on this case and urges the Pakistani authorities to release this young girl who, according to certain sources, apparently has Down syndrome.

France wants to reaffirm that the very existence of the crime of blasphemy infringes upon fundamental freedoms, namely the freedom of religion or belief, as well as the freedom of expression. It urges Pakistan to comply with its international commitments in this area, notably the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the Convention on the Rights of the Child.