Pakistani Christian arrested for “blasphemy”
Barnabas Fund, 14 August 2020
An angry Muslim mob forced its way into a Pakistan police station on 5 August after a Christian man was arrested for alleged “blasphemy” in Punjab province.
Sohail Masih was accused by a local Muslim leader of insulting Islam in a Facebook post.
A crowd gathered outside the police station became enraged when they heard that a case had not been registered against Sohail, and some forced their way inside.
Sohail was later charged with “defiling the name” of Muhammad, which carries the death penalty.
Even when accused Christians have been cleared of blasphemy of “blasphemy” allegations, it may never be safe for them to return home because of the threat from the local Muslim community.
To date no one has been executed under the “blasphemy” law, but a number of Christians and others have received death sentences.