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Pakistan

• Blasphemy Charges Dropped Due to False Accusations

  

  A 72-year-old Christian man in Faisalabad was arrested and charged with blasphemy on February 10th after being accused of tearing a copy of the Quran. The case against Younis Bhatti (also known as Bhagat) was filed by Sosan Fatima, a woman who had previously attended the Brethren house church founded by the Bhatti family. Having allegedly converted to Islam, Sosan claimed that she was reading the Quran at her home when Younis forced his way into the house. Purportedly, he then grabbed the Islamic scriptures from her and tore its pages, assaulting her during the incident.

• Two Christian Brothers Forcibly Converted

  

  Two Christian brothers, Azam and Nadeem George Masih, were reportedly kidnapped on January 22nd before being beaten and forced to recite an Islamic conversion creed. The assailants recorded a video statement in which the brothers were forced to state that they had converted to Islam of their own free will.

• Persecution & Prayer Alert

  

  
  "O come, Thou 'Rod of Jesse' [the Messiah],
  Free Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
  From depths of hell Thy people save,
  And give them victory o'er the grave."
  ~ These lyrics, based on Isaiah 11:1-5, are from the hymn,
  "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."
  Translated from Latin by John Mason Neale
  
  

  For many who receive the weekly "Persecution & Prayer Alerts," Christmastime brings to mind the imagery of joyful family celebrations, the enjoyment of peaceful carol music and, most importantly, the celebration of God's gift to humanity, as expressed through the birth of His Son Jesus. It's a season involving Christmas pageants, festive lights, gift-giving, and meaningful worship services of celebration. While the specific traditions may vary among individual families and churches, the primary purpose remains the same for all believers: to remember and celebrate the arrival of the "Promised Messiah."

• Parents Accused in Kidnapping Case

  

  In a situation that has become far too common in Pakistan, a young Christian girl was abducted on August 22nd and then forcibly converted to Islam and married against her will to the abductor. The victim, Samreen Aftab, was a ninth-grade student at a school in Jaranwala where her father is employed as the principal. According to her father, Aftab Joseph, she was abducted by a Muslim man named Muhammad Amir.

• Christian Boy Beaten for Alleged Blasphemy

  

  A young Christian boy was recently badly beaten by his Muslim schoolteacher after he allegedly committed a blasphemous act in class. The incident, which took place in the Pakistani city of Khanewal, has raised concerns about the lack of religious tolerance and justice in the community.

• Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Nayab Gill's Case

  

  In May 2021, 13-year-old Nayab Gill was forcibly converted and married to a 30-year-old Muslim man named Saddam Hayat. Despite court challenges, custody was given to her "husband." (For more details, go to this report.)A year later, reports surfaced indicating that the young Christian girl may have been sold to someone else as a bride (details here). With support from various advocacy organizations, Nayab's parents have continued to fight for justice on behalf of their daughter.

• Christian Parents Charged with Blasphemy

  

  Shaukat Masih and his wife Kiran live in Lahore, Pakistan, with their three children, ages thirteen, nine and seven. The Christian couple has been accused of desecrating the Quran after loose pages fell from the rooftop of their house, even though they were not home at the time of the incident. As a result of the accusations, the couple has been detained. Without family members available to look after their three school-aged children, the accused parents arranged for the children to stay with another Christian family in the area.

• Mass Violence After Blasphemy Accusations

  

  On August 16th, thousands of people stormed a Christian colony in Jaranwala, a town located in the Faisalabad district of Punjab. Angered by allegations of blasphemy, and spurred on by urgent announcements that had been broadcasted over mosque loudspeakers, the incited mob either damaged or utterly destroyed up to 26 church buildings and as many as 400 homes. Thankfully, there were no reports of casualties following this recent attack. Please take the time to view the informative video alert that VOMC released the next day, which includes footage of the actual attacks.

• Church Attacked During Prayer Service

  

  Members of the Lala Zarr Church in Peshawar had gathered for a prayer service on the evening of August 3rd when a group of angry men from the neighbourhood suddenly rushed into their place of worship. Initially, the men demanded that the volume of the sound system be reduced. However, shortly after the disruption, several other armed men stormed into the church building that evening, causing panic among the congregation.

• Christian Charged Under Anti-Terrorism Laws

  

  In September 2022, Imran Rehman was accused of blasphemy because of the material he posted on a WhatsApp group chat. The Pakistani believer was arrested and detained to await trial. Unfortunately, since his arrest, proposed changes to Pakistan's laws were drafted. If approved, blasphemy cases could be tried under the revised anti-terrorism laws. Even though the legislation is still only in draft form, Imran recently had terrorism charges laid against him.