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Pakistan

• Eleven-year-old girl arrested for blasphemy

  In this photo, Muslims protest after hearing that Asia Bibi, another Christian woman accused of blasphemy, might be granted clemency. She was not.

  Pakistani police have taken 11-year-old Rimsha Masih into custody after a mob accused her of desecrating pages with verses from the Qur'an. The mob demanded the Christian girl's arrest and threatened to burn down Christian homes outside the capital Islamabad. More than 600 people have fled from the Christian neighbourhood and her parents have been taken into protective custody following threats. Officials said the girl could not properly answer police questions. It is thought that the girl has Down Syndrome. Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari has ordered an investigation into the arrest.

  The girl's plight is likely to reignite debate about growing religious intolerance in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where strict anti-blasphemy laws make defaming Islam or the Prophet Mohammed or desecrating the Qur'an, a capital offence.

  Human rights activists say the law is often used to settle petty disputes, but in the face of huge public support for the legislation, the government says it has no plans to change it. Many of those accused of blasphemy have been killed by violent mobs, while politicians who advocate a change in legislation have also been targeted.

  Please pray for this young girl and her family. Pray for their protection and for her release, pray for the Christian families who fled their homes. Pray this case will shed further light on the problems of the current blasphemy laws and bring about change.

  To learn more about the suffering Church in Pakistan, please visit the Pakistan Country Report.

• Pastor accused of blasphemy, threatened with death

  In the Punjab district of Sialkot, a Christian pastor has been accused of blasphemy and threatened with death after quoting from the Qur'an during a sermon.

  Pastor Joshua was arrested on May 24 after a large crowd led by Muslim clerics gathered around the church to complain about his quoting from Islamic scriptures. Pastor Joshua was raised as a Muslim, which is believed to be one of the reasons for the accusations made against him.

  He was released without charge after partners of VOM Canada's sister mission in the UK, Release International, intervened on his behalf. He and his nine-year-old son are now in the protective care of Release partners.

  Pray that God will guide and protect Pastor Joshua and his son. Pray that God will use Pastor Joshua's background to bring many to Christ. Pray that those who oppress Christians in Pakistan may experience repentance and salvation, just as Paul did (Acts 9:1-19).

  To learn more about our brothers and sisters facing persecution in Pakistan, go to the Pakistan Country Report.

• Update: Blasphemy conviction overturned

  Munir and Ruqqiya were accused of defiling the Qur’an.

  A court has acquitted a Christian couple in Pakistan sentenced to life in prison for blasphemy. The couple's lawyer said the judge accepted the couple's appeal because prosecutors failed to prove allegations that 32-year-old Munir Masih and his wife Ruqqiya defiled the Qur'an or insulted Muhammad in December 2008 (for more, click here).

  The allegations came under sections of Pakistan's blasphemy laws which are often used to exact revenge on Christians over personal disputes. In this case, the Christian couple's children had fought with the family of Muhammad Yousaf, who then directed his driver to file the blasphemy charges.

  A trial court exonerated them of blasphemy against Muhammad in 2010 due to a lack of credible evidence, but sentenced them to life imprisonment, which is 25 years in Pakistan, for allegedly defiling the Qur'an. Munir was released on bail in December 2010, while Ruqqiya, a mother of six, had been awaiting the decision in jail.

  Praise God that Ruqqiya is now home with her family. Please pray that the unsuccessful prosecution of this false charge would deter others from making false accusations against other Pakistani Christians. Pray that this family will continue to serve Jesus Christ, despite the hostility they have faced.

  For more on the persecution of Pakistani Christians, go to the Pakistan Country Report.

• Families trust in Christ

  Pray that more families in Pakistan will come to know the Lord.

  An evangelist in Pakistan supported by VOM has asked for prayer for several people who have recently been receiving the gospel message.

  The evangelist, "Sam," had been praying for his good friend Hadi for months, but had never had the opportunity to share his faith. Hadi recently asked for a copy of the New Testament and has been reading it.

  Sam was invited to pray for a girl with chronic kidney pain, and after Sam prayed for her in her home, the pain suddenly disappeared. The girl's family was amazed and asked how this was possible. Sam said, "Everything is possible in the Lord Jesus Christ." The entire family made the decision to follow Jesus.

  A few Sundays ago, after Sam preached in a church service, a man confessed to him that he was feeling suicidal. His family was pressuring him to divorce his wife because they had no children, but after talking with Sam and praying with his family, the whole family gave their lives to Christ.

  While there is a notable degree of religious freedom promised to minorities by law, non-Muslims must practice their faith cautiously and under varying degrees of threat from Islamists. Christians in Pakistan face severe opposition from militant Islamic groups, including imprisonment, torture and even death.

  Please pray that Hadi will be saved. Pray that the faith of the two families will grow strong so they can also effectively share the gospel. Ask God to continue growing His Church in Pakistan. Pray that Christians facing persecution for their faith in Pakistan will look to God for their strength.

  For more on the persecution of Pakistani Christians, go to the Pakistan Country Report.

• Update: Christian cleared of blasphemy

  Dildar was accused of "abusing Islamic holy words."

  A Pakistani Christian man, who rescued his eight-year-old nephew from an attack by a group of Muslim boys, has been acquitted of blasphemy charges. The 27-year-old father of two, Dildar Masih, was cleared of all charges on March 26 due to a lack of evidence.

  Dildar said despite being called to court three times, not a single accuser stepped forward at the hearings to testify against him. "You cannot imagine my joy when the prison officials told me that I had been acquitted by the court," he said.

  The original charge came after his young nephew, Ihtesham, was passing by a nearby madrassa (an Islamic religious school) when a group of boys from the school began to beat him for refusing to convert to Islam (for more, click here). Dildar saw the attack and rushed to the boy's aid. A short time later, a Muslim mob of about 55 people converged on Dildar's home while he was at work saying Dildar had been heard "abusing Islamic holy words."

  Dildar said that despite threats of violence during his imprisonment, he stood by his faith. "I kept on telling God that I had complete faith in Him and would wait for the day when He would set me free," he said.

  Praise God for Dildar's release and for his faithfulness while imprisoned! Please pray that his faith will be a testimony to others who were in prison with him, and that they too will place their faith in Christ. Pray for other Christians in Pakistan who are facing false accusations of blasphemy.

  Go to the Pakistan Country Report to learn more about our persecuted brothers and sisters in Pakistan.

• Update: Prisoner spends nights praying and singing

  Imran Ghafur

  The family of Imran Ghafur, a Pakistani Christian who has been imprisoned on blasphemy charges since early 2010 (for more, click here), was recently visited by VOM staff.

  His family shared that Imran spends time praying and singing spiritual songs in the prison at midnight. Sometimes Muslim prisoners join him and ask him to pray for them. Imran also spends time reading the Bible. His family shared that he is anxious to be released so that he can "do missionary work for Jesus."

  Pray for Imran's release. Pray that, in the meantime, God will bless Imran's missionary work within the prison walls. Pray that the Muslims who have joined him for prayer and song will make a commitment to serve the Lord. Pray for strength and encouragement for Imran's family, as VOM staff said they seemed to be in low spirits.

  Go to the Pakistan Country Report to learn more about Pakistan's persecuted Church.

• Pastor discusses Christianity with teacher

  Pray that many in Pakistan will turn to Christ!

  An Arabic-language teacher at a government school in Pakistan has been meeting with a VOM-supported pastor to learn more about Christianity.

  The encounters began after the teacher learned that one of his students was a Christian. "I've never met a Christian in my life," he told the young man. "How do you Christians pray?" The student invited him to speak with his pastor.

  At first the discussions were difficult because the teacher didn't feel he could speak openly. But last month, the pastor visited the teacher's school and brought pencils and notebooks for the students. That day, the pastor and the teacher spoke for two hours, and the teacher requested a Bible so he could look up some of the verses the pastor cited.

  The Pakistani teacher suggested they discuss the topic of whether Jesus is the Son of God the next time they meet.

  The pastor asks for our prayers: "Please pray for me, when I have this meeting, that God will protect me and the Holy Spirit will guide me and save the soul of [this teacher], so he can accept Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour." Please also pray for those in Pakistan who are facing persecution because of their faith in Jesus. Pray that their passion for Christ will be the light that draws others to Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16).

  For more information on the trials our brothers and sisters face in Pakistan, go to the Pakistan Country Report.

• Woman charged with blasphemy after refusing Islam

  In this photo, Muslims protest after hearing that Asia Bibi, another Christian woman accused of blasphemy, might be granted clemency. She was not.

  A young mother who angered relatives when she refused to deny her Christian faith has been falsely accused of blaspheming Muhammad, the prophet of Islam.

  Shamim Bibi, the 26-year-old mother of a five-month-old baby girl, was arrested by police in Khichiwala, Bahawalnagar district, in Punjab Province on February 28 after neighbours accused her of uttering remarks against Muhammad -- an offence punishable by life imprisonment or death under Pakistan's blasphemy laws. Shamim's brother and brother-in-law say she was wrongly accused because she had resisted pressure from her husband's sister as well as her nephew and niece to convert to Islam just four days before her arrest.

  A local leader claimed that Shamim's neighbours told him and other Muslims that they had heard the Christian woman making derogatory remarks about Muhammad in her courtyard. Shamim's brother-in-law says after gathering information from an accuser and the neighbourhood, he found that neither accuser was even present at the time of the alleged remark. The Superintendent of Police Investigation also acknowledged that one of the two witnesses had admitted to not being present at the alleged "crime" scene.

  Please pray that the accusers will recant any untruth and that Shamim will be freed. Please pray that her infant daughter and her husband, Bashir Masih, will remain safe and will soon be reunited with Shamim. Pray that Shamim will keep her eyes on Jesus, persevere in her faith, and not grow weary or lose heart (Hebrews 10:32-39; Hebrews 12:1-3).

  For more on the persecution of Pakistani Christians, go to the Pakistan Country Report.

• Man charged with blasphemy

  Christians in Pakistan continue to face charges of blasphemy. Pray that they will be able to stand firm in their faith!

  Dildar Yousaf, 28, was arrested and charged with blasphemy after defending his eight-year-old nephew who was being attacked by a group of Muslim boys last June. Dildar's nephew, Ehtasham, was passing by a "madrassa," a school where Islamic students study the Qur'an, when seven boys surrounded him and tried to force him to say, "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet." Ehtasham refused, and the boys began to verbally and physically assault him. Dildar happened by and pulled his nephew away and took him home.

  A rumour then spread that Dildar had disgraced the Muslim proclamation of faith. Crowds gathered and began to demand his death. Police picked up Dildar from his workplace, put him in protective custody and charged him with blasphemy. This particular charge carries a potential three-year sentence with the possibility of parole, unlike other blasphemy charges in the country that can result in a death sentence.

  Dildar's wife, Naseem, and their two children, as well as Ehtasham and his family, have all had to leave their village. VOM is supporting the family and providing legal assistance to Dildar. Dildar's village has a history of persecution. In the past, a Christian's house was burned, a pastor was killed, and another believer was charged with blasphemy.

  Please pray that Dildar and Ehtasham's families will be able to safely return to their homes with God's protection. Please pray that the charges against Dildar will be dropped. Please pray that God will reach out to the seven young boys who attacked Ehtasham so that they will hear and heed His call.

  For more on the persecution of Pakistani Christians, go to the Pakistan Country Report.

• Evangelist harassed and under attack

  An evangelist supported by The Voice of the Martyrs in the Afghan-Pakistan border region says he is being harassed by a local Muslim leader and is also under attack by spiritual forces.

  After some local Muslims attended a church service last Christmas, the evangelist received a letter warning him that his congregation was not respecting the Muslim call to prayer. Police have monitored the Christian man's activities, and the local mullah -- a Muslim man trained in religious law and doctrine -- has said the evangelist's Christian activities "must be stopped." The evangelist says the region has been difficult for mission workers in the past, and that he is impacted spiritually when he goes on prayer walks.

  Please pray that God will grant supernatural strength to this brother and to his church. Pray that the Muslims who attended the Christmas church service will be fertile soil for the seeds that have been planted. Pray that the gospel will spread and flourish in this hostile area.

  For more on the persecution of Pakistani Christians, go to the Pakistan Country Report.