Travel Ban Lifted for Religious Rights Leader

pakistanOn Friday, November 28, The Voice of the Martyrs received the welcome news that the Pakistani government has removed Shahbaz Bhatti, chairman of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) and a leading voice for religious liberty in Pakistan, from the country's Exit Control List. This list is normally reserved for criminals and dissidents and made it impossible for Mr. Bhatti to travel outside the country since mid-October.

At Shahbaz' request, we want to thank all of you who wrote to the Pakistani authorities on his behalf. We urge you to continue to uphold him in your prayers as he labours on behalf of Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan.

  • 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.

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Pakistan News

  • Court Permits Believer's Christian Identity
    Sufyan Masih is on the left. he is standing with three other people.
    Sufyan Masih (left) with his parents and legal counsel.
    Photo: Christian Daily International-Morning Star News

    On November 16th, a district judge in Kasur, Punjab, overturned a ruling that had previously barred Sufyan Masih from reverting back to Christianity after allegedly converting to the Islamic faith. Sufyan's lawyer believes that the judge who presided over the initial court hearing had previously ruled against the Christian man due to a fear of receiving backlash from Muslim militants.

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  • Rape Cases Demonstrate Legal Inequality for Christians
    A girl is glancing back as she is walking between two brick buildings. There are more girls in the distance.
    Girls in Pakistan.
    Photo: Flickr / European Union (cc)

    Christians in Pakistan frequently face discrimination when having to deal with matters relating to governmental and/or legal concerns. Two recently occurring sexual assault cases demonstrate the ways in which believers often encounter unjust treatment from the authorities because of their faith. (To review other reports addressing the suffering of our Pakistani brothers and sisters in Christ, go to our country profile.)

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  • Vigilante Groups Orchestrate Online Blasphemy Cases
    A crowd is gathered in protest against blasphemy laws in Pakistan.
    A protest against Pakistan's blasphemy laws.
    Photo: Wikipedia / Vivek Ravikumar (cc)

    While accusations of blasphemy in Pakistan are common and can be motivated by interpersonal conflicts or business disputes, there has been a nofigure increase in allegations based on social media posts. (To read previously published reports about Christians who have been charged with blasphemy, go to our country profile.)

    According to the research findings of the AFP news agency, many such cases are taking place as a result of organized "vigilante groups" led by lawyers and the support of volunteers scouring the Internet for offenders. In some cases, unsuspecting social media participants are duped by strangers into sharing content that could be deemed blasphemous, resulting in police reports being filed against them.

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  • Bail Granted for Christians Facing Blasphemy Charges
    Zimran Asim is standing with his lawyer. There is a poster behind them which reads,
    Zimran Asim with his lawyer.
    Photo: Christian Daily International-Morning Star News
     

    The previous week's Persecution & Prayer Alert reported on an unusual case in which bail was granted to Saima Masih, a Christian woman who was accused of blasphemy in Pakistan. (Read the previously published report.) While Saima has been freed from prison, she remains in danger from the avenging violence of militant vigilantes who are seeking to achieve what they falsely perceive as "justice." Remarkably, this past October, two similar blasphemy cases came before the Pakistani courts in which other accused Christians were also released on bail.

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