Nouman Masih, a Christian sentenced to death for blasphemy, has recently excelled academically by achieving a high score in his high school board examination, despite the challenging conditions of his imprisonment.
Masih was arrested on July 1, 2019, and sentenced to death in May 2023 after a trial that spanned four years in Bahawalpur District, Punjab Province.
In a report by Christian Daily International-Morning Star News, lawyer Lazar Allah Rakha expressed his satisfaction with how Nouman Masih, rather than succumbing to despair while on death row, has maintained his faith and hope for freedom under challenging conditions.
“His feat in the examination is testament to his unwavering faith in Christ and of his determination to start life afresh when the Lord acquits him from the false conviction,” said Rakha.
Rakha further described the prison environment as hardly ideal for academic pursuits. “The prison environment is far from conducive to academic pursuits,” he said.
Rakha also noted the exceptional commitment of the young man to his studies, highlighting that despite the limited resources and access to educational materials in prison, Masih successfully prepared for his exams. This, he emphasized, shows a profound desire for knowledge that surpasses the confines of his imprisonment.
Masih was accused of sharing blasphemous content against Islam in WhatsApp messages but was acquitted in another blasphemy case on the grounds of double jeopardy in February by a judge in Bahawalnagar District.
After expressing his desire to take the board examination, Masih submitted an application to the jail authorities to facilitate his registration with the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Bahawalpur, according to Rakha.
“Well-educated convicts taught Masih and other prisoners in return for facilities or remission/reduction of their prison terms,” he said.
Asghar Masih, Nouman’s father, expressed the family’s pride and gratitude. “We cannot thank God enough for gracing our son with this achievement,” he said. He acknowledged the ongoing support from the Church of Pakistan and Bishop Azad Marshall in meeting Masih’s educational needs.
Pakistan remains one of the most difficult places to be a Christian, according to Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List.
