8-Year-Old Boy Faces Death Penalty For Allegedly Peeing Where Religious Books Are Kept

A Hindu family are currently in hiding after their eight-year-old son was accused of intentionally peeing on himself close to a religious library.

Aside from the minor’s family, many residents of the Hindu community in Punjab are said to have fled the area after a group of Muslims attacked a Hindu temple in outrage following the accused boy release on bail last week.

Naija News understands the child makes the youngest person ever to be charged with blasphemy in the country, a charge which can carry the death penalty.

Reports made available to reporters revealed that the boy is currently being held in protective police custody in Pakistan.

Soldiers have been deployed to the surrounding of the Library of Madrassa where the boy allegedly urinated intentionally on a carpet.

On Saturday, 20 people were arrested in connection with the temple attack, Naija News understands.

Speaking to reporters from hiding, one of the boy’s family members said: “He [the boy] is not even aware of such blasphemy issues and he has been falsely indulged in these matters. He still doesn’t understand what his crime was and why he was kept in jail for a week.

“We have left our shops and work, the entire community is scared and we fear backlash. We don’t want to return to this area.

“We don’t see any concrete and meaningful action will be taken against the culprits or to safeguard the minorities living here.”

Legal experts are shocked at the blasphemy charges being filed against the child.

Ramesh Kumar, a lawmaker and head of the Pakistan Hindu Council, said: “The attack on the temple and blasphemy allegations against the eight-year-old minor boy has shocked me.

“More than a hundred homes of the Hindu community have been emptied due to fear of attack.”

Kapil Dev, a human rights activist, said: “I demand charges against the boy are immediately dropped, and urge the government to provide security for the family and those forced to flee.

“Attacks on Hindu temples have increased in the last few years showing an escalating level of extremism and fanaticism. The recent attacks seem to be a new wave of persecution of Hindus