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Pakistan

• Update: Christian accused of blasphemy appears in court

  Asia Bibi (37), a woman arrested for blasphemy in Pakistan's Punjab province on June 19 after she and several Muslim women had a heated discussion about Islam (click here for the story), appeared in court on October 14. Bibi's husband, Ashiq Masih, and their two daughters were able to visit with her for 15 minutes before her court appearance. Bibi reported that she has been treated well in prison but misses her family. Another hearing has been scheduled for October 27.

  For more information on the opposition facing Christians in Pakistan,click here.

• Church burned, Christian found dead

  Fanish - Photo from Pakistan Christian Post

  On September 11, a mob of Muslims burned down a church building in the village of Jaithikey, Punjab province after a Christian man allegedly blasphemed the Qur'an. Two homes near the church were looted in the attack. The Muslims were earlier encouraged at the mosque to "give a lesson to the Christians." The 20-year-old Christian man, Fanish, was arrested on September 12 for provoking a young Muslim woman and throwing away a copy of the Qur'an. On the evening of September 14, Fanish's body was found hanging in his jail cell. Although his death has the appearance of suicide, local Christians believe the visible signs of torture on his body indicate that he was killed.

  Pray for those mourning the loss of Fanish. Pray that the Lord will equip Christians in Punjab province to boldly proclaim His name (2 Corinthians 1:8-9).

  To find out more about Pakistan's suffering Christians,click here.

• Christians killed for refusing to convert

  Five Christians were shot and killed by Islamists who opened fire at a laboratory in the city of Quetta, Pakistan on August 28, according to recent reports from local sources in Pakistan. The Christians had reportedly been receiving letters from Islamic militants threatening them with death if they did not convert to Islam. Local Christians suspect that the assailants belonged to the same militant group which killed several Christians and ransacked more than 100 homes in the city of Gojra in early August (click here to read the story).

  Thank the Lord for the lives of these cross-bearing disciples. Ask God to comfort those who mourn for them. Pray that Christians in Pakistan will continue to demonstrate Christ's love and hold firmly to faith in Him despite threats of violence and death.

  To learn more about the persecution of Christians in Pakistan,click here.

• Night of terror for Christians

  On the evening of August 1, a mob of angry Muslims attacked local Christians in the district of Gojra, Punjab province, killing at least eight people, including a seven-year-old child, as well as burning and looting dozens of homes and a church building. The violence came in response to a rumour that Christians had desecrated pages from the Qur'an several days earlier at a wedding in a nearby village. This was the second such attack that Christians in the area suffered due to this rumour. On July 30, Muslims burned down dozens of Christian homes, killing livestock and damaging church buildings in the village of Korian, a few kilometres from Gojra. In both attacks, Muslim leaders encouraged the violence, using mosque loudspeakers to call on the faithful to defend Islam. According to witnesses, the attackers used a fuel that is particularly difficult to extinguish to set the fires.

  Government officials have condemned the attacks with unusual severity and have criticized security forces for their slow response. They have stated that there is no truth to the allegations of blasphemy and promised to rebuild the homes destroyed and financially assist those who have lost family members in the violence. Recent reports estimate that over 200 had been arrested for their involvement in the violence.

  Please pray that those who have lost loved ones in this senseless violence will know God's comfort. Pray for Pakistani authorities as they seek to restore law and order in the region. Pray that those responsible will be brought to justice. Pray that local Christians will respond to this violence in a Christ-like manner, with forgiveness and without retaliation.

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

• Christian shopkeeper beaten and detained on blasphemy charges

  Imran Masih (25) was arrested after Muslims accused him of burning pages of the Qur'an in the town of Hajwery, Faisalabad, Pakistan, according to reports from AsiaNews and Pakistan Christian Post. While Masih was cleaning up his fruit and vegetable shop on July 1, he set some paper and books on fire -- a common practice for waste disposal in the area. The Muslim owner of a nearby shop then accused Masih of burning the Qur'an and called for Muslims to kill the "infidel." A group of Muslims gathered and beat Masih until police intervened and took him into custody.

  Later that day, announcements were made from the local mosques calling for Muslims to take revenge on Christians for Masih's "sacrilegious act." A mob of Muslims blocked the roads, chanted slogans against Christianity and demanded that Masih be publicly hanged. At last report, Masih was detained at a local police station and Christians in the region had gone into hiding in fear of further attacks.

  Pray that Masih will be released. Ask God to grant him healing and strength. Pray that Christians in this region will stand firm in faith and find refuge in the Lord's sovereign care (Psalm 127).

  Find out more about suffering Christians in Pakistan at the
  Pakistan Country Report.

• Muslims attack Christians

  Photo from Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan

  Christians in the village of Bahmaniwala in Punjab province, Pakistan, were attacked by Muslims on June 30 after a believer allegedly committed blasphemy against Islam. When Sardar Masih (38) and his son were returning home on their tractor on June 29, they asked a reportedly intoxicated Muslim man and his nephew to move their motorbikes which were blocking the road. Enraged that a Christian gave them an order, the two grabbed Masih and began to beat him. Later that evening, a group of 15-20 Muslims attacked Masih's family and damaged his home. His tractor was ruined and his brothers sustained serious hatchet wounds. The Muslim man filed a report with local police and told a Muslim religious leader that Masih had blasphemed.

  The next day, a Muslim cleric used the local mosque's loudspeaker to call Muslims to attack Christians. That evening, more than 500 Muslims looted and damaged over 100 homes, burned vehicles and attacked believers. Electricity and water supplies were also cut off. Dozens were injured, including women and children who were reportedly sprayed with acid. One of the women who was beaten miscarried. Muslims have registered blasphemy cases against 11 believers.

  Ask God to enable Christians in Bahmaniwala to grow in Christlikeness through their trials (James 1:2-4). Pray that persecutors throughout Pakistan will be challenged by the consistent testimony of Christ's followers and be drawn to Him.

  To find out more about the persecution believers endure in Pakistan,
  click here.

• Christian woman facing blasphemy charges

  Asia Bibi and her family

  Thirty-seven-year-old Asia Bibi was recently arrested by police on allegations of blasphemy in the village of Ittanwali, Punjab province, Pakistan. On June 19, some of the Muslim women who work with Bibi on a farm owned by a local Muslim engaged in a heated discussion with Bibi about Islam. Bibi told them that Christ died on the cross for their sins and asked them what Mohammed had done for them. "Our Christ is the true prophet of God and yours is not true," Bibi said. The Muslim women became angry and began to beat her. Some men then locked her in a room. Muslims announced from mosque loudspeakers a plan to punish Bibi by blackening her face and parading her through the village on a donkey. Local Christians informed the police, who took Bibi into custody before the Muslims could carry out their plan. At last report she was being held at a police station in Nankana city and local Christians were urging the police not to file blasphemy charges. However, police claim that they must go forward due to pressure from local Muslim leaders.

  Pray that Bibi will be released. Pray for strength for Bibi's family. Ask God to give boldness to Christians in Pakistan as they witness to their Muslim neighbours.

  To find out more about how believers suffer for Christ's sake in Pakistan,click here.

• Christian girl kidnapped

  Sajida Masih, the mother of a 12-year-old Christian girl who was kidnapped in the village of Hanif Kot, Gujranwala district, Pakistan and forced to marry a 37-year-old Muslim man, is embroiled in a legal battle to recover her daughter, according to a June 4 report from Compass Direct. On February 23, Muhammad Imran abducted Huma Masih after threatening to kill her, her aunt and her parents. Sajida was ridiculed by police when she sought their help. After three days, officers finally filed the report but listed Huma's age as 16, the legal age for girls in Pakistan to marry. Imran subsequently demanded nullification of the report, claiming Huma converted to Islam and married him of her own will. He also submitted a fake birth certificate which listed her age as 18. Local Muslims have since tried to extort money and labour from Sajida in exchange for information on Huma's whereabouts. At last report, a hearing was scheduled for June 11.

  Pray that Huma will be returned to her family. Pray for wisdom for the family's lawyer. Pray that those who prey on Christian girls in Pakistan may experience repentance and salvation.

  To find out more about how believers suffer for Christ's sake in Pakistan,click here.

• Update: Christian denied bail, threatened with death

  Photo from Compass Direct

  Hector Aleem (51), a Pakistani Christian facing charges of abetting blasphemy (click here for the details), was denied bail on April 30, according to a May 6 report from Compass Direct. The judge dismissed the bail application out of concern for Aleem's safety after the complainant's attorney reportedly stated at the hearing, "If the judge does not punish Aleem according to the law, then [we] will kill him ourselves." Aleem's lawyer has requested that future hearings be closed to the public, as he fears that Muslim militants may try to harm his client. At an earlier hearing on April 25, approximately 185 Muslims protested outside the courthouse. At last report, Aleem remained in detention at Adiyala Jail in the city of Rawalpindi.

  Click hereto learn more about the ongoing opposition facing Christians in Pakistan.

• Muslims attack Christians following blasphemy accusations

  On May 1, a mob of approximately 500 armed Muslims launched attacks on Christians in the village of Chak, Punjab province, after five local believers were arrested for blasphemy. The Christian men were accused of breaking into a government-run primary school for girls a week earlier and smearing a page of the Quran with ink and gum. They were also accused of leaving a message on the blackboard that linked one of the men, a well-known social activist, to the scene. The militants, angered by the alleged blasphemy, vandalized homes and threatened believers with death. Muslims from a neighbouring village tried to burn down the houses of the accused men but were stopped by authorities. Twelve Christian families have since fled the area in fear.

  Pray that the arrested Christians will be released. Pray that the assailants will come to repentance and salvation. Pray that Pakistani Christians will know God's care and provision.

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