On October 5th, James Masih from Layyah, Punjab, was accused of blasphemy by a patient in the hospital where he worked. Although the accused Christian man was a sanitation worker at the hospital, his duties also included assisting outpatients and staff in the emergency ward.
On the day he was wrongly accused, a Muslim widow named Nazia came in for a medical checkup. James instructed the patient to go to a specific room to have her blood pressure checked, but she refused. Finally, a staff nurse came by to give the same instructions, which Nazia heeded.
Later, while undergoing further medical tests, Nazia spotted James and accused him of saying something disrespectful towards the Islamic prophet Muhammad, which he denied. James then spoke with the doctor tending to Nazia, who assured him that when she came back from the tests, he would talk to her. When she returned, the doctor called James in and asked Nazia about the accusations, which she repeated. While this was happening, another patient recorded the incident on his mobile phone and, unbeknownst to James, posted it on social media.
The video quickly spread online and was picked up by a local television station who reported the story as "a worker at the hospital committing blasphemy." Understanding the danger of this situation, James went into hiding, along with his family.
According to James' wife Shumaila, the incident relates to a previous financial disagreement. Nazia had earlier claimed that Shumaila owed her 4,000 rupees (around $25 CAD) for rikshaw services provided by her late husband. Despite Shumaila clarifying that she only owed 400 rupees, Nazia became abusive towards Christians in general, saying they were all dishonest. This discussion happened only a few days before Nazia's accusations against James.
While no legal charges are pending against the Christian man, the accusations were enough to "convict" him in the eyes of public opinion. As Shumaila explained, "[Nazia's] false accusations have endangered our whole family's lives and, if it's not resolved, we have no future. My children have already stopped going to school, and we have no permanent place to live, but are moving from one place to another."
There is, unfortunately, no recourse for the Masih family. "False accusers are never brought to justice," explains Nasir Saeed, Director of CLAAS-UK, "and this continues to encourage people to take the law into their own hands and make false accusations against other persons to settle their personal scores." For more reports on incidents of persecution against Christians in Pakistan, go to our country report.
Remember James, his wife Shumaila, along with others of their family, in your prayers. May they find a place of safety and stability where they can peacefully reside. Pray that Pakistan's authorities will begin to take false accusations seriously, providing needed justice to this family and the many other Christians throughout Pakistan who have been wrongly accused of blasphemy. May God also work in the life of James' accuser, Nazia, praying that as she mourns the loss of her husband, she will sense His comfort and peace which we hope would be more fully experienced through her turning to faith in Christ Jesus.
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