Christian charged with ‘blasphemy’ denied bail

Christian charged with ‘blasphemy’ denied bail
A judge has denied bail to a young Christian man charged with desecrating the Quran under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws despite the lack of evidence against him, sources said. Police in Shahdara, near Lahore, had arrested 23-year-old Khuram Masih on Dec. 5 and charged him with desecrating the Quran after . . . Read More

Persecution increased most in Sudan, Nigeria, report says

Persecution increased most in Sudan, Nigeria, report says
Sudan and northern Nigeria saw steeper increases in persecution against Christians than 48 other nations where Christians suffered abuse last year, according to an annual ranking by Christian support organization Open Doors. Sudan – where northern Christians experienced greater vulnerability after southern Sudan seceded in a July referendum, and where . . . Read More

Pakistani mother condemned for ‘blasphemy’ allegedly beaten

A female prison officer assigned to provide security for a Christian mother of five who was sentenced to death on “blasphemy” charges beat her earlier this month, sources said. Sources in Pakistan’s Sheikhupura District Jail said Asia Noreen, also known as Asia Bibi, was beaten on Oct. 5 by a . . . Read More

Suspected Islamists kill Pakistan’s Christian cabinet member

Unidentified gunmen in Islamabad today shot dead Federal Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s only cabinet-level Christian and an outspoken critic of the country’s widely condemned “blasphemy” laws. Suspected Islamic extremists from Pakistan’s Taliban and al Qaeda reportedly left a letter at the scene saying those who try to . . . Read More

Jailed Pakistani mother living in constant fear, husband says

A mother of five sentenced to death on “blasphemy” charges has lived in constant fear since the killing of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, her husband told Compass as he came out of Sheikhupura District Jail after meeting with her last week. Ashiq Masih said his wife, Asia Noreen (alternatively spelled . . . Read More

Murder of governor in Pakistan darkens Asia Bibi’s ‘blasphemy’ case

The case of Asia Noreen, the first Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan on blasphemy charges, suffered a major setback when her most vocal supporter, the governor of Punjab Province, was gunned down by one of his police bodyguards yesterday (Jan. 4) in Islamabad. The lives of Noreen and . . . Read More