Tag: Blasphemy

68 Pakistani lawyers charged with blasphemy

May 14, 2014 Pakistan Blasphemy, Islamic extremism, Pakistan, Prophet Muhammad, Punjab

Pakistani police in Punjab have opened a blasphemy case on Sunday against 68 lawyers after they staged a protest last week against a police officer. The police complaint stated that the protesting lawyers had insulted a close companion of Islam’s Prophet Mohammed while they were demonstrating outside a district police . . . Read More

Christian couple sentenced to death for ‘blasphemous’ texts

April 8, 2014 Pakistan Blasphemy, Gojra, Islamic extremism, Joseph Colony, Rawalpindi, Sawan Masih

Shaguftah Emmanuel, left, and her husband, Shafqat, in separate and undated photos.Contributed photos A Pakistani court has sentenced to death a Catholic couple convicted of blasphemy for insulting the Prophet Mohammed and the Qur’an. The sentence came a week after Sawan Masih, another Christian, was sentenced to death on . . . Read More

Pakistani Christian sentenced to death for blasphemy

March 27, 2014 Pakistan Blasphemy, Joseph Colony, Lahore, Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League, Prophet Muhammad, Sawan Masih, USA

Lahore, Pakistan – A year after Muslims devastated the predominantly Christian Joseph Colony; the man at the center of the controversy has been sentenced to death for blasphemy because of claims that he insulted Islam’s prophet, Muhammad. Sawan Masih’s sentence, handed down March 27, is based on a conversation that . . . Read More

Murdered MP’s brother threatened 3 years after death

February 20, 2014 Pakistan Blasphemy, Paul Bhatti, Shahbaz Bhatti

Almost three years have passed since the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti, a Pakistani MP who lobbied against the country’s controversial blasphemy laws. Now, his elder brother’s life is under threat. Paul Bhatti was living in Italy when his brother was murdered on March 2, 2011, but he soon returned to . . . Read More

Lebanese library torched after blasphemy accusation

January 7, 2014 Lebanon Al-Saeh Library, Blasphemy, Greek Orthodox, Lebanon, Tripoli

Around two-thirds of the library’s estimated 80,000 books are thought to have been damaged.MTV Lebanon News / YouTube A huge library of books collected by a 72-year-old Greek Orthodox priest, but used by the whole community, was torched in Lebanon on Friday (January 3) after he was accused of insulting . . . Read More

Christmas excitement marred by insecurity for Pakistani Christians after deadly year of attacks

December 23, 2013 Pakistan All Saints Church, Blasphemy, Joseph Colony, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Taliban

Memorials for the victims of the bomb attacks at All Saints Church in Peshawar.Kamran Chaudhry for World Watch Monitor The decorations have been put up, carol services have begun and small celebrations are being planned, but the festive spirit is marred by anxiousness and insecurity among Pakistan’s small Christian . . . Read More

Pakistani Christian on blasphemy charge speaks out from jail

December 16, 2013 Pakistan Adnan Prince, Blasphemy, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Lahore, Lashkar-e-Taiba

A Christian held in a Pakistani prison has told World Watch Monitor about the events surrounding his arrest and current detention. In October 26-year-old Adnan Prince (also known as Adnan Masih) was accused by a work colleague of insulting Islam, the Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad. A conviction of blasphemy . . . Read More

Rash of blasphemy accusations after Pakistan church bombings

November 26, 2013 Pakistan Al-Qaeda, All Saints Church, Blasphemy, Gujranwala, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Karachi, Lahore, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Pashtun, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Sunni Tehreek, Taliban, Youhanabad

The remains of a Munawar Masih’s belongings in Michael Town, Karachi, after they were taken from his home and set on fire.World Watch Monitor Two months ago, on September 22, two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside All Saints Church in Peshawar when congregants were leaving the church after . . . Read More

EU Parliament pleads for Christian safety

October 12, 2013 Global News -- No Particular Country All Saints Church, Blasphemy, Churches, Iran, Pakistan, Peshawar, Religious freedom, Saeed Abedini, Syria

The European Parliament has gone on record condemning violence against Christians in several countries. In a resolution passed on Thursday, Oct. 10, the parliament: Condemned militant attacks on Christians in Syria, and called for protection of monasteries and humanitarian support for nuns and orphans; Condemned the Sept. 22 bombing attack . . . Read More

After the bombs

October 2, 2013 Pakistan All Saints Church, Blasphemy, Karachi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, Peshawar, Taliban

On Sept. 22, two bombs exploded at All Saints Anglican Church in Peshawar, the capital of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan. More than 80 people were killed, making it the deadliest attack ever on Pakistan’s Christians. In the days since, protests have been staged across the country. Condemnations . . . Read More

Catching Our Eye