According to rights groups such as the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Human Rights Watch, most innocent victims of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws belong to minority Muslim sects like the Ahamadis, who are often viewed as non-believers by Pakistan’s majority Sunnis.

Rimsha’s father — a Christian house painter who earns a few dollars a day — said no one in his family would dare dishonor the Quran.

“We respect the Quran just like we respect the Bible,” said Mizrak Mashi. “We couldn’t imagine committing blasphemy let alone doing it. Our children would never do this either.”