Commencement of Blasphemy Trial


Protests were held in
Lahore following the riots.

Please continue to uphold Pakistani Christian Sawan Masih whose court trial was scheduled to begin on April 22nd. The roadsweeper from Lahore was charged following accusations made against him which reportedly prompted widespread rioting in the Joseph colony last month. (To read the previously posted prayer alert concerning this situation, click here.)

Pray for protection and justice on behalf of Sawan, and all who are supporting him. May God grant wisdom and favour to those who are advocating bravely in his defense. Also remember to intercede for the many innocent members of this devastated Christian community whose homes have been completely demolished. Ask the Lord to work mightily on their behalf, bringing greatly needed healing, provision and restoration in their lives.

  • 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

  • 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.

    Read more...

  • 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.

    Read more...

  • Teen Girl Released from her Abductors
    Diya is standing with her parents and attorneys.
    Diya Iftikhar (third from left) with her parents and attorneys. 
    Photo: Christians True Spirit
     

    On September 12th, 16-year-old Diya Iftikhar was abducted from her family's home by three men who are well-known for their opposition to Christians. In a video message to her parents four days later, Diya stated that she had converted to Islam and married Ghazaal Jutt, one of her kidnappers. (Review a previous report.)

    Read more...

  • Bail Granted for Woman Accused of Blasphemy
    Two women are on a path in a village.
      

    In August of this year, two Christian sisters were accused of blasphemy when a Muslim man claimed to find ruined pages of the Quran amongst garbage, stating that one of the sisters had discarded them. Both sisters denied his allegation, believing that the pages were purposely placed there by the man himself because of the personal vendetta he had against them. (More about the situation is available here.)

    Read more...

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