Tags

Pakistan

• Misunderstanding Leads to Overwhelming Tragedy

  Shama and Shahzad

  A young Christian couple, Shahzad Masih and his wife Shama, were brutally murdered on November 4th over an unfortunate misunderstanding.

  According to an on-the-ground report from the European Centre for Law and Justice in Pakistan, Shama, an illiterate mother of four who was in her second trimester of pregnancy, inadvertently burned pages of the Quran. The landlord, informed by neighbours that she had burned the Quran, locked the couple in his office, beat them, and offered them freedom to escape for a fee they couldn't pay.

• Asia Bibi's Death Sentence Upheld

  Asia Bibi

  On October 16th, Asia Bibi lost her appeal against a death sentence for blasphemy. Her attorneys now have 30 days to file an appeal with the Supreme Court in Islamabad -- a process that will likely take more years of waiting and agonizing endurance. During Asia's hearing at the Lahore High Court, nearly 2,000 Muslim teachers gathered outside while approximately 25 were present inside the courtroom, presumably to put pressure on the judges. When learning about the disappointing outcome of the trial, she pleaded with VOM contacts: "Please do something. It's been so long, and I want to be with my children."

• Asia Bibi's Appeal Again Postponed

  Asia Bibi

  The hearing for Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy, was postponed for the sixth time on September 9th -- this time at the request of her husband, Ashiq Masih. Asia was arrested in June 2009 after being accused of insulting the Muslim prophet Mohammed. (For more information on Asia's longstanding case, visit this page.)

• Dozens of Believers Accused of Blasphemy

  A graveyard in Pakistan. Flickr / Muhammad Imran Saeed

  Fifty-five Christians were recently accused of blasphemy following an argument over a graveyard. Local Muslims registered a case against the 55 Christians in the Tehcil Samandri district of Faisalabad after the believers had begun to prepare part of an old Muslim graveyard for use by those of their own community. The Christians insist they had received permission from a sympathetic Muslim landowner to use that part of the graveyard, which was located on his property. Despite permission being granted, the accusing Muslims attacked the Christians and pressed charges. Police then arrested 14 of the believers, including a 12-year-old child. The others have yet to be detained.

• Christian Girls Facing Atrocious Acts of Violence

  Pray for the safety of Pakistani children. Photo: Flickr / Hashoo Foundation

  Every year, as many as 700 Christian girls between the ages of 12 and 25 are kidnapped, forced to marry their abductors and pressured to convert to Islam in Pakistan. In many cases, these girls are coerced to state that they converted of their own will, allowing the perpetrators to escape punishment. When cases of forced marriage and conversion have been reported, police have shown blatant disregard for the criminal justice system. And if such cases do make it to court, the victimized girls remain in the custody of their abductors during the proceedings.

• Asia Bibi's Appeal Hearing Further Delayed

  After several delays in her trial, the appeal hearing for Asia Bibi has been scheduled for May 27th. Asia, a wife and mother, was arrested in 2009 on charges of insulting Mohammed. She now faces the death sentence for this "crime." Please continue to pray for Asia, her family and her legal team as they await this next court date. (For more information on her case, please visit this page.)

• Christian Couple Sentenced to Death for 'Blasphemous' Texts

  Shagufta and Shafqat Photo via World Watch Monitor

  A Pakistani court has sentenced a Christian couple to death for insulting Mohammed and the Quran. Shafqat Emmanuel, 44, and his wife, Shagufta, 41, who live in Gojra, Punjab, were convicted on April 4th of sending "blasphemous" text messages.

  The complainant, Muhammad Hussain, alleged he was praying on July 18th of last year when he received blasphemous text messages on his cell phone. Muhammad's call data reportedly revealed the messages were sent from Shagufta's cell phone number. The police, however, were unable to recover the SIM card from her phone, and Shagufta argued that she lost her cell phone a month prior to the incident.

  Nevertheless, the Gojra police detained the couple, along with their four children (ages five through 13), pressuring them to name someone who could have sent the messages. At last report, the couple was planning to appeal the verdict.

  Pray that mercy will be extended to this Christian couple by those of the judicial system, granting them a swift release. Please also bring this couple's children to our Lord in prayer, as Shafqat and Shagufta have been unable to visit with them since their arrest last summer. May God strengthen the faith of each family member, encouraging them to trust Him wholeheartedly throughout this ordeal. Finally, please intercede on behalf of two other believers, Sawan Masih and Asia Bibi, who have also been sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan.

  To watch a three-minute video report about these false charges, please visit this page.

• Christians Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy

  Militant Islamist attacking Joseph Colony in March 2013 Photo: Abid Nawaz via World Watch Monitor

  Sawan Masih, a Christian road sweeper and father of three from Lahore, was sentenced to death for blasphemy on March 27th. Sawan was also fined 200,000 rupees (approximately $2,250 CAD). The trial was conducted in the Lahore Camp Jail, where Sawan has been unable to leave due to the threats on his life.

• Asia Bibi's Appeal Hearing Postponed

  Remember in prayer Asia’s husband and children.

  The appeal hearing for Asia Bibi, a Christian woman imprisoned for blasphemy, has been postponed "to a later date." Asia was arrested in 2009 on charges of insulting Mohammed and later sentenced to death. Since then, she has been waiting for her appeal to be heard while being held in isolation at the women's prison in Sheikhupura (Punjab). (For more on Asia's case, click here.)

• Brother of Murdered Christian MP Facing Death Threats

  Paul Bhatti Photo: AsiaNews

  Almost three years have passed since the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti, a Pakistani MP who lobbied against the country's controversial blasphemy laws. Now, his elder brother's life is under threat.