Elderly Men Accused of Blasphemy

11 October 2006

Police in Faisalabad, Pakistan have arrested two Catholic men on blasphemy charges, according to an October 9 report from AsiaNews. The two men, James and Buta Masih, both 70, allegedly burned pages from the Quran even though their accusers did not see them commit the act. The illiterate men were burning what they believed were merely scrap papers. A local Muslim, Arshad Mubarak, claimed that pages from the Quran were included. A local priest, Yaqoob Yousaf, said the plaintiff had been trying to get James Masih to sell his house but to no avail and that the accusations were an act of retribution.

Pray that all charges will be dropped against the men. Remember the many Christians suffering in Pakistani prisons on similar false charges.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in Pakistan, click here.

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.