2017Pakistan
A 70-year-old Christian has just been arrested for making
‘blasphemous’ comments in a letter – at the same time as more than 100 Muslims
have been cleared of virtually destroying a Christian community during a
blasphemy row.
Mukhtar Masih, a Christian from Gujranwala, Punjab, is now in
custody accused of derogatory remarks about the Koran and Islam’s prophet,
Mohammed. On the same day, an
Anti-Terrorism Court cleared 106 men of attacking Joseph Colony in Lahore in
2013.
Please pray that true justice will be done – and be seen to be
done – for Mukhtar and the many others Christians accused of blasphemy in
Pakistan.
Mukhtar’s entire family was detained with him on January 28,
including his three grandchildren. All
but Mukhtar were later released but have had to go into hiding. Locals believe
that the motive behind the allegations against him is a bid to seize his
property.
The riots in Joseph Colony in 2013 saw thousands of rioters loot
and torch more than 150 homes, after a Christian road-sweeper named Sawan Masih
was accused of blasphemy. He was sentenced to death in 2014 and his appeal has yet to be
heard. The rioters were released on
bail the day they were accused. Release
Int.