Hundreds Flee After Blasphemy Charges

A man sitting at a desk, reading a Facebook post with 1 Corinthians 10: 18-21 in Urdu.
  

Police have charged a Christian man, Haroon Shahzad, with blasphemy after he posted a Bible passage onto his Facebook page on June 29th. The passage, 1 Corinthians 10:18-21, refers to the sacrificing of food to idols, and the timing of the post coincided with the beginning of the Islamic feast of Eid al-Adha. The post was made without comment.

The Islamic feast commemorates God's provision of a lamb for Abraham to sacrifice in his son's place. A local villager took offense to Haroon's post, stating that it disrespected the Abrahamic tradition of animal sacrifice and likened Muslims to pagans. The villager shared a screenshot of the post with local social media groups and, as a result, it stirred up anger within the community.

The next day, leaders of local mosques called for people to gather in protest of the post after Friday prayers. Mobs from other villages also joined the angered community, and police were called to avert potential attacks made against the 250 to 300 Christian families in the village. While the authorities were able to deter any such attacks from occurring, the majority of the Christians were forced to flee the village, including Haroon and most of his family.

Charges were laid against Haroon for blasphemy, despite the argument that he had made no personal statement when posting the Scripture passage. In an effort to force him to surrender, the authorities detained his two sisters-in-law who had stayed behind to care for their disabled parents rather than fleeing. The women were released on July 2nd after Haroon's brother and two others presented themselves for detention in their stead.

Haroon was detained and then released on bail as of July 3rd. However, he was taken into "protective custody" the next day. The attorney representing him is hopeful that he will again be released on bail at the next hearing. It is believed that the charges against Haroon were largely based on a personal grudge harboured against him by the complainant, Imran Ullah.

Speaking of the original post, Christian and former lawmaker Tahir Naveed Chaudhry conceded that "there was no inflammatory comment in it, but perhaps the timing was not right." Unfortunately, the calls for protests from the mosque loudspeakers led to the possibility of mob violence being committed against Christians of the community in general.

The blasphemy laws in Pakistan have led to numerous cases of arrests and convictions, often due to interpersonal conflicts which have little to do with religion. It is believed that around 80 people are currently being detained in Pakistan on blasphemy charges, half of whom are facing life in prison or the death penalty. Even in cases where the accused individuals have been released, many of them were forced to hide or flee for their lives. One such example is Sawan Masih, an acquitted Christian man who remains virtually in prison because of the threats on his life. (For information on Sawan's situation, go to this page.) VOMC's ministry partner, Steadfast Global, continues to work diligently to get Sawan and his family out of the country, despite the roadblocks they are facing.

Prayerfully uplift Haroon, his family, and the other Christians in their community, who are living in fear because of this threatening situation. May each one of these believers be given the right words to say to help dispel the anger of hostile community members. Pray for the Lord's protection over the numerous followers of Jesus who have been forced to flee through no fault of their own. Finally, remember all those who have been unjustly sentenced with blasphemy and, as a result, presently remain in prisons across Pakistan (Hebrews 13:3).

  • Current Ministry Projects

    VOMC partners to train Christian women in sewing skills throughout Pakistan to provide a sustainable source of income for their families and encourage them in their faith and witness for Christ.

    Project Funds: Families of Martyrs, Women’s Ministry

  • Country Information

    Population
    247,653,551 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Punjabi (44.7), Pashtun [Pathan] (15.4), Sindhi (14.1), Saraiki (8.4) Muhajirs (7.6) Balochi (3.6), Other (6.3)

    Religion (%)
    Islam (96.5), Other - Christian and Hindu (3.5)

    Leader
    President Asif Ali Zardari (2024)

    Government type
    Federal parliamentary republic

    Legal system
    Common law system with Islamic law influence

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Pakistan

    Pray that amendments will be made to Pakistan's existing blasphemy laws so that the country's citizens – including its children – will be protected from injustice and abuse. May our Lord's mercy and justice prevail, not only in the judiciary system but also in the hearts of the country's militants. Ask Him to transform their "hearts of stone" into hearts that are receptive to His love, mercy and the workings of His Holy Spirit – not only for the purpose of protecting the Christian minority but also for the salvation of their own eternal souls.

Pakistan News

  • Catholic Pilgrim Killed During Van Attack
    Afzal Masih is surrounded by mourners. One woman's hands are gently touching the wraps covering him.
    Afzal Masih, surrounded by his loved ones.
    Photo: Morning Star News

    In the early morning hours of September 7th, a van carrying as many as 18 Catholics was travelling to a pilgrimage site in Mariamabad when three young men on motorbikes intercepted the vehicle by swerving in front of it. The motorcyclists had noticed a cross and Christian posters on the outside of the travelling van.

  • Delayed Investigation After Attack on Christian Woman
    A very dark room is dimly lit by a single window in the corner. A woman is silhouetted against the window.
     

    A horrific attack on a young Christian mother has once again exposed the severe forms of persecution experienced by religious minorities in Pakistan. On June 11th, Sheeza Bibi was brutally raped by three men while her three-year-old daughter, Dua, watched in terror. The incident was clearly premeditated.

  • Court Decisions Render Justice for Christians
    Adil Babar is standing outside.
    Adil Babar
    Photo: Morning Star News

    Christians in Pakistan often encounter intense opposition, particularly through the country's legal system. However, three recent court rulings have brought about a measure of relief and a renewed hope for justice.

  • Christian Acquitted After 23 Years
    A person grasping a chain-linked fence is silhouetted against a sky that is almost dark.
    Photo: Pixabay

    In 2001, during the aftermath of the World Trade Centre attacks in New York, a Christian man in Pakistan named Anwar Kenneth published a letter defending Christianity and expressing his belief that Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was not a prophet of God. As a result of the letter, Anwar was charged in 2002 and ultimately convicted of blasphemy – a crime that carries an automatic death sentence under Pakistani law. The imprisoned believer has remained on death row for the past 23 years.