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Pakistan

  • Pakistani Man Released on Bail

    Walter Fazal Khan, who was charged under Pakistan's blasphemy law and jailed for allegedly desecrating the Quran on May 9 (click here for more details), was granted bail on May 29. According to a May 29 report from the Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement, Khan was taken to a safe location.
  • Elderly Christian Charged Under Blasphemy Law

    An 84-year-old Christian, Walter Fazal Khan, was charged under the blasphemy law and jailed for allegedly desecrating the Quran in Samanabad, Lahore on May 9, according to a May 11 report from the Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement. The case against Khan was registered by his driver, who claimed to have seen him burning pages of the Quran. Khan's family says that the charge is part of a "conspiracy" against him by some Muslim businessmen who were angered by his refusal to sell them his land for 8 million rupees ($215,377 CAD). Muslim militants have seized Khan's property.

    Pray that the charges against Walter will be dropped and that he will be released. Pray that God will give him opportunities in prison to share the gospel for which he suffers
    (Colossians 4:2-3).

    For more information on persecution in Pakistan,click here.
  • Pakistani Christians Face Threats

    Christians in the towns of Charsadda and Mardan in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, have received letters demanding that they close their churches and convert to Islam within ten days or face dire consequences. Copies of the handwritten letter were delivered to two churches and several Christian families on May 7.

    The towns have been facing heavy opposition from Islamic militants, including bomb attacks against video and audio stores. Police have been stationed around churches and homes to provide protection to the estimated 600 Christians in the district.

    Pray that these threats against Christians will come to nothing. Pray that Pakistani Christians will not give in to fear but stand firm in the faith (2 Timothy 1:7).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Pakistan,click here.
  • Martha Bibi Released on Bail
    Martha Bibi with her family
    Photo from All Pakistan Minorities Alliance
    Martha Bibi, who was accused of defiling the name of Muhammad and charged under Pakistan's blasphemy law in late January (click here for more details), was released on bail on May 3, according to a report from the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA). Bibi is reportedly in poor physical heath due to the abuse and harsh living conditions she endured while incarcerated. There is concern that she and her family are in danger from local militants angered by her release.
  • Girl Raped by Muslims
    Shaheena Masih
    Photo from All Pakistan Minorities Alliance
    A 12-year-old Christian girl, Shaheena Masih, was kidnapped and raped by four Muslim men on Easter Day in the city of Lahore, Punjab province, Pakistan, according to an April 23 report from the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance.

    Shaheena stayed home from an Easter prayer service at a local church, Kings Revival Church, in order to take care of her ailing father. At approximately 10: 00 a.m., her father asked her to go out and get him some juice. On her way to a shop, she was kidnapped by four armed men who placed a handkerchief on her mouth until she was unconscious and flung her into a car. The men took her to a factory and locked her in a room, where she was repeatedly raped by the four men over the span of two days. During one of the attacks, one of the perpetuators reportedly said to the others, "Don't hesitate to rape a Christian girl. Even if she will die, no one will get us. Her poor parents cannot pursue us." They eventually left Shaheena at a brothel run by a Muslim lady, who later dropped her off on a street near her home.

    One of the attackers, Mohammed Safdar, was caught by police after they raided the factory. Under interrogation, he implicated the others. Only after pressure did the police register a case against the attackers. They are now being pressured to drop the charges and Shaheena's family has been threatened if the case proceeds.

    Ask God to give Shaheena healing from the emotional and physical scars of the assault. Pray that authorities will prosecute the offenders to the full extent of the law. Pray for Shaheena and her family as they will struggle with the ability to exhibit God's love to their persecutors.

    For more information on persecution in Pakistan,click here.
  • Young Christian Charged with Blasphemy
    Photo of pamphlet from All Pakistan Minorities Allicance
    According to an April 23 release by All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, on April 13 Sattar Masih was preparing for his wedding the next day when some Muslim men came to his home in Kotri, Pakistan with a piece of paper containing his picture and a hand-written note containing comments that criticized Mohammad. Sattar denied that he had written the note. When copies of the note were found posted outside a local mosque, Muslims demanded that he be arrested. Police took him into custody and tortured him in an effort to gain a confession. The next day he was charged with blasphemy under Section 295A and C. His uncle, Mushtaq Masih, was also arrested even though he clearly could not have written the note since he is illiterate. Local Christians believe the pamphlet was part of a conspiracy to incriminate Sattar.

    Pray that the truth will be revealed and that Sattar and Mushtaq will be freed. Pray for emotional strength for Sattar and his fiancée during this trying time.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Pakistan,click here.
  • Five Christians Charged with Blasphemy
    Ratan Masih - Photo fromCompass Direct
     
    Five Christians, including a 16-year-old boy, have been falsely accused of and charged with "blasphemy" against Muhammad on April 1 in Toba Tek Singh, Punjab, according to an April 6 report from Compass Direct.

    The charges against Salamat Masih, his son Rashid (16) and his relatives Sahibah Masih Mota, Shehla Masih and Bao Masih were filed by their Muslim neighbour, Abdul Ghafar. Ghafar claimed that Salamat and Bao Masih snatched a sticker with Muhammad's face on it out of his nephew's pocket and stomped on it. He also claimed that the five Christians forcibly entered his house, armed with a pistol and wooden rods, and shouted remarks against Muhammed and abused his family.

    Local Christians say that Ghafar's report was entirely fabricated and that the true source of the conflict was an argument between Salamat Masih's 11-year-old son, Daniel and some of his Muslim playmates. The Muslim children reportedly beat Daniel when he refused to play with them. This sparked a heated confrontation between Daniel's mother and one of the Muslim families. Offended, the family reported a false case with local police.

    When local Muslims heard of the accusations of blasphemy, they attacked the Christian Colony, a Christian neighbourhood, stoning houses and injuring a number of believers. A handicapped Christian named Ratan Masih was badly beaten before police beat back the mob and rescued him.

    The five Christians have been charged under articles 295-A and 295-C. If convicted, they could face three years imprisonment, a fine and the death penalty, or life imprisonment and a fine. They have all gone into hiding except Salamat Masih, who was arrested and remains in police custody.

    Pray that the truth will come out in this situation and that all charges against these Christians will be dropped. Ask God to give healing to those injured. Pray that Christ will strengthen Pakistani Christians to follow His example and remain faithful to Him (2 Corinthians 1:8-9).

    For more information on persecution in Pakistan, click here.
  • Evangelists Beaten at Muslim Festival


    A team of four Pakistani Christian evangelists associated with The Voice of the Martyrs was attacked and beaten at a Muslim festival in Pakpattan, Pakistan on Friday, January 26.

    After handing out more than 13,000 Christian tracts, three of the evangelists were beaten by Islamic militants. They were then taken to the police station where they were detained and questioned before being released. The fourth evangelist, who was the team leader, was beaten by a mob of more than 100 Muslims. They dragged him through the crowd before taking him to the local police station. He is reportedly passing blood in his urine and stool as a result of his injuries.

    Ask God to heal these four evangelists of their injuries. Pray that their passion for Christ will be the light that draws others to Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16). Pray that Christians in Pakistan will confidently entrust themselves to Christ so that they can preach the gospel without hesitation (2 Timothy 1:7-12).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Pakistan,click here.
  • Christian Woman Jailed under Pakistan's Blasphemy Law
    Martha Bibi's lawyer (back, right) with
    her husband and four of her children.
    Photo from All Pakistan Minorities Alliance.
    Martha Bibi, a Christian woman from Kot Nanak Singg in Kasur district, Pakistan has been accused of defiling the name of Muhammad and has been charged under Pakistan's blasphemy law, Section 295C.

    Bibi and her husband rent out construction equipment. They had recently rented out tools and supplies for the construction of the Sher Rabbani mosque. When the builders failed to pay, Martha went to the construction site on January 22 to collect the money. When the workers refused to pay, she tried to retrieve the equipment but was stopped before she entered the mosque. Three men, Muhammad Ramzan, Mohammad Akram and Muhammad Dilbar beat her until some people walking by intervened.

    Later that night, the mosque's imam accused Martha of uttering blasphemous words about Muhammad and he urged local Muslims to attack Christians. Fearing for their lives, Martha and her family fled their home. Her husband, Boota Masih, and her six children escaped to a neighbour's house but Martha was captured and arrested. Martha is imprisoned at the Changa Manga police station awaiting trial. Her family remains in hiding for their protection.

    Ask God to bring Scripture verses of comfort to Martha's mind during her imprisonment (Psalm 119:49-56).  Pray for the protection of her husband and children. Pray that Christians in Pakistan will follow Christ's example and entrust themselves to the One who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23). Pray that all charges against Martha will be dropped and that she will be released.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Pakistan,click here.
  • Elderly Men Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison
    James Masih and Buta Masih
    Pictures from    Compass Direct
    James Masih (65) and Buta Masih (70), two Pakistani Christians who were arrested on October 9 on blasphemy charges (click here for more details), have been sentenced to a prison term of ten years and a fine of 25,000 rupees ($465 CAD).

    The prison verdict was delivered during a closed hearing at Faisalabad's Anti-Terrorism Court on November 25. The Christians' defense lawyer, Khalil Tahir Sindu, responded to the verdict by stressing that his clients were innocent and that there was a lack of direct evidence against them. Sindu also noted that, by law, blasphemy charges of this nature warrant a life sentence. Their shorter sentence, he believes, was a clear signal that the judge considers the two men innocent, but felt pressured to rule against them to satisfy Muslim militants. He intends to appeal the sentences before the High Court in Lahore within the coming week.

    Pray that God will give James and Buta comfort during their imprisonment. Pray that He will give them opportunities in prison to share the gospel for which they suffer (Colossians 4:2-3). Pray that Pakistani Christians will have the patience to entrust true justice into the hands of God (Romans 12:17-21).

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

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