The ordeal of Anwar Masih, a 57-year-old Pakistani Christian in prison for more than two years for what his family and various human rights activists described as “false accusations of blasphemy,” continues.
In recent days a local court denied him bail, said a report on AsiaNews.
The case arose after Anwar’s daughter, Samreen Bibi, married a Muslim in 2017, after embracing Islam. Soon after, the Anwar’s wife, Kousar Parveen, also became a Muslim.
The police later accused Anwar of mistreating his wife and daughter for their decision to be Muslims. On June 2, 2020, Anwar was arrested for allegedly defamaing the Prophet Muhammad.
Imran Masih, one of Anwar’s sons, told AsiaNews that his brothers and sisters were pressured to become Muslims to prove that the family is not against Islam.
Imran claimed that he and his family members have received death threats and were forced to go in hiding.
In an earlier statement, the Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) UK, a Christian charity dedicated to helping persecuted Christians in Pakistan, said the case is “another example of the misuse of the blasphemy law where a daughter gets rid of her father, and a wife her husband, simply because he cannot accept what they have done.”
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Pakistan last month granted bail to three Christians accused of blasphemy, in two separate proceedings whose hearings have been held in recent days.
Joseph Jansen, president of the NGO “Voice for Justice,” welcomed the court decision.
“We thank the judges for granting bail to the three Christians, but we still have serious concerns about the misuse of blasphemy laws, used to target innocent people,” said Jansen.
The National Commission for Justice and Peace of the Catholic bishops of Pakistan noted that there were six Christians accused of blasphemy who were granted bail in 2022.
According to data from the Center for Social Justice, there were 1,949 people charged under the blasphemy laws from 1987 to 2021. This number includes 928 Muslims, 643 Ahmadis, 281 Christians, 42 Hindus and 55 of unknown faith. – with a report from Fides
