Please pray for our brothers and sisters in
Chak village, Punjab in Pakistan: they’re living in fear after local Muslims
accused a Christian of blasphemy.
The allegations surfaced after Imran Masih’s colleagues at the local
health centre where he worked as a cleaner claimed he had been watching a
controversial Christian preacher on YouTube on his mobile. Friends of Imran, who
is a cleaner, say he is illiterate and could not have mastered the browser on
his phone.
Angry local Muslims consulted Islamic scholars in the city of Sargodha,
who issued a fatwa (Islamic decree) against Imran. When a local
business man placed a bounty on Imran’s head, he fled from Chak. Muslims in the
village then boycotted the 45 local Christian families, refusing to buy from or
sell to them and threatening to attack their homes and
churches.
Last Friday a large mob had gathered outside the mosque, apparently
poised to attack Christians. Police dispersed the crowd but things remain tense.
By Sunday, three-quarters of Chak’s 45 Christian families had fled. Those who
stayed now have no food. Release partners are supporting Chak Christians and
have called on police to step up security to protect them. Release Int.
