world news
Man Jailed for Life in Blasphemy Case in Karachi
Pakistan — On Thursday, a sessions court in Karachi sentenced Ali Hyder to life imprisonment for desecrating the Holy Quran in 2021. Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Shahid Ali Memon found the accused guilty, ruling that the prosecution had convincingly proven the charge of defiling copies of the Quran under Section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
“All the prime witnesses had fully supported the case regarding the date of offense, time of the offense, arrest of accused, seizure of property, etc. In other words, it can safely be said that all the witnesses, including the complainant, had corroborated each other, and the learned defense counsel made cross-examination upon them, but he has not been able to cause any dent to their evidence,” the judge said.
Hyder was accused of desecrating the pages of the Quran. A complaint was filed, and he was arrested shortly after. During the trial, the prosecution presented eight witnesses and contended that the evidence against Hyder was overwhelming and called for a conviction.
The defense pointed out an unexplained delay in filing the complaint and noted that no members of the public had reported the incident to the police that day.
Blasphemy laws in Pakistan can be weaponized during disputes or to target Christian minorities unfairly. Currently, there are 198 individuals who are in jail or on trial for blasphemy charges in Pakistan, according to a 2023 report from the U.S. Department of State.
Sources:persecution
world news
ഇന്തൊനീഷ്യൻ സന്ദർശനത്തിനിടെ മാർപാപ്പയെ വധിക്കാൻ പദ്ധതിയിട്ട 7 പേർ അറസ്റ്റിൽ
സിംഗപ്പൂർ: ഇന്തൊനീഷ്യയിൽ സന്ദർശനം നടത്തുന്നതിനിടെ ഫ്രാൻസിസ് മാർപാപ്പയെ വധിക്കാൻ പദ്ധതിയിട്ട സംഭവത്തിൽ 7 പേരെ പൊലീസ് അറസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്തു.
മാർപാപ്പ 3 ദിവസത്തെ ഇന്തൊനീഷ്യ സന്ദർശനം പൂർത്തിയാക്കി ഇന്നലെ പാപ്പുവ ന്യൂഗിനിയിലെത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. രഹസ്യവിവരത്തെ തുടർന്ന് ജക്കാർത്തയ്ക്കു സമീപമുള്ള ബൊഗോർ, ബെക്കാസി എന്നിവിടങ്ങളിൽ നിന്നാണ് 7 പേരെ തിങ്കൾ, ചൊവ്വ ദിവസങ്ങളിലായി അറസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്തത്.
ഇവർക്കു പരസ്പരം അറിയാമോയെന്ന് പൊലീസ് സ്ഥിരീകരിച്ചിട്ടില്ല. ഇവരിലൊരാൾ താമസിച്ചിരുന്ന വീട്ടിൽ നിന്ന് അമ്പും വില്ലും, ഒരു ഡ്രോൺ, ഭീകരസംഘടനയായ ഇസ്ലാമിക് സ്റ്റേറ്റിന്റെ ലഘുലേഖകൾ എന്നിവ കണ്ടെടുത്തിട്ടുണ്ട്.
പിടിയിലായവരിൽ ഒരാൾ ഭീകരപ്രവർത്തകനും വിരാന്റോയിൽ മുൻപ് നടന്ന ആക്രമണത്തിലെ പ്രതിയുമാണ്. മാർപാപ്പയുടെ ഇസ്തിഖ്ലാൽ മസ്ജിദ് സന്ദർശനത്തിൽ രോഷംകൊണ്ടാണ് ആക്രമണത്തിനു പദ്ധതിയിട്ടതെന്ന് പൊലീസ് വക്താവ് അറിയിച്ചു.
Sources:nerkazhcha
world news
False Blasphemy Charge Leaves Christian Community Reeling
Pakistan — Yet another Christian community in Pakistan is in a state of fear following a local Muslim’s false accusation of blasphemy.
On Aug. 27, a man named “Bugti” claimed a local Christian had burned a Quran in the Christian community of Gulshan-e-Mariam, Jam Kanda, Shah Latif Town, district Malir Karachi. Word of the incident spread, and tensions mounted until a Muslim mob formed on Aug. 30 and shouted threats. Nearly 40 of the more than 250 Christian families in the community fled, fearing violence. Members of the mob broke into those families’ homes and stole their belongings.
“The situation of the area was very harmful, and the Muslims of the area included were angry, and some masked persons were ready for the attack,” one person reported. “Luckily, all were saved after the statement of the man named Bugti, who saw the burnt Quran from a garbage canister near the Christian community’s area.”
Police reportedly took Bugti and two Christians, a pastor and a police officer, to the Shah Latif Police Station to record their statements on the incident. Representatives of Muslim organizations in the area also visited the police station.
Police later met with religious and political leaders from the local Christian and Muslim communities. Bugti also attended the meeting and shared why he made the accusation.
“I found a burnt Quran from the garbage canister, but I have not seen anyone doing this,” Bugti said.
Although police have increased their presence in the area following the incident, ICC has heard reports of local Christians still feeling threatened and afraid.
False blasphemy charges have been weaponized against Christians for years and have been widely reported. Christians throughout Pakistan fear being targeted by the weaponizing of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Previous allegations made against believers have led to extensive destruction and even death.
Sources:persecution
world news
13 Mountain Gateway-Affiliated Personnel Released after Nearly 9 Months in Prison
Nicaragua— After months of diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Nicaraguan governments, 13 Nicaraguan pastors and attorneys affiliated with Mountain Gateway, a Texas-based ministry, were released from prison today.
“This is the day we have prayed and believed God for,” Jon Britton Hancock, founder of Mountain Gateway, said in a statement. “These pastors and attorneys have suffered greatly for the sake of the Gospel, but it has not been in vain. The Kingdom of God is advancing because of their persecution. Today, we cry tears of joy because our brothers and sisters are free!”
The 13 Mountain Gateway-affiliated prisoners were among 135 “unjustly detained political prisoners” released today through a deal arranged by the U.S. government, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement.
“No one should be put in jail for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights of free expression, association, and practicing their religion,” Sullivan added.
Nicaraguan authorities arrested the 13 Mountain Gateway personnel in December 2023 following a large evangelistic event. In March, they were convicted of money laundering and sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. They were also fined nearly $1 billion.
International Christian Concern (ICC) President Jeff King recently spoke with Hancock about the challenges Mountain Gateway has faced in Nicaragua. ICC has also closely followed issues of religious freedom in Nicaragua, where more than 500 churches and religious organizations have been attacked since 2018.
Sources:persecution
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