A court in Pakistan has dropped a controversial blasphemy case against a Christian girl accused by her neighbour of burning pages from the Koran.
The girl, known as Rimsha and aged 14, was held in a maximum security jail in July prompting international concern.
Her arrest followed accusations by a Muslim cleric now facing a case for allegedly planting evidence.
Rimsha's lawyer said the case had been a misuse of law. Her family received death threats and went into hiding.
Following an outcry over the case, Rimsha, who doctors said was 14 years old but with a younger mental age, was released on bail - an extremely rare move in blasphemy cases.
- After partition in 1947 Pakistan inherited offences relating to religion, which were first codified by India's British rulers in 1860
- In the 1980s, clauses were added to the laws by the military government of General Zia-ul Haq
- One clause recommends life imprisonment for "wilful" desecration of the Koran. Another says blasphemy is punishable by death or life imprisonment
- Muslims constitute a majority of those booked under these laws, followed by the minority Ahmadi community
- A majority support the idea that blasphemers should be punished, but there is little understanding of what religious scripture says as opposed to how the modern law is codified
The case against the Muslim cleric, accused of framing her, will proceed, says the BBC's Orla Guerin in Islamabad.
He will be tried for making a false accusation.
There has been no word yet from Rimsha and her family, who remain in hiding, at an undisclosed location, our correspondent says.
A leading human rights campaigner has welcomed the decision to drop the case against her, but says her life could still be at risk from extremists.
In Rimsha's neighbourhood her Muslim neighbours were reluctant to speak on camera about her case. One man leaving afternoon prayers said the judgement was wrong. Others said they would accept the verdict.
Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan, where 97% of the population are Muslim.
Christian campaigners say more than 30 people - suspected of blasphemy - have been killed by mobs or vigilantes over the past 20 years.
Critics say the controversial laws are misused all too often - to persecute minorities or settle scores.
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