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Pakistani police file blasphemy charges against mentally-challenged Christian man

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Pakistan — Police in Pakistan this week arrested a mentally challenged Christian man on blasphemy charges despite being aware of his condition, sources said.

In Sahiwal, Punjab Province, Ghala Mandi police on Monday arrested Farhan Javed Masih, 28, after a local villager, Muhammad Bilal Khan, accused him of speaking against Islam and the religion’s sacred figures, said the suspect’s mother, Parveen Javed.

“We were at home when Bilal and some other Muslims came and told us that Farhan had committed blasphemy,” his mother, Parveen Javed, told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “I pleaded with them to forgive him, keeping in mind his mental state, but they did not listen to me and called the police, who arrested him.”

Javed, widowed six years ago and mother of three children in Chak 134-9/L village, said Farhan Masih’s mental health started deteriorating after his father’s death. His younger sister, Anum, said that his mental condition was known to everyone in the village.

“Getting him arrested for blasphemy will only aggravate his mental condition,” she said. “The police should have at least gotten his mental examination done before registering the FIR [First Information Report] against him.”

A member of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Parveen Javed said her son had completed a four-year nursing course and had worked at Adam Welfare Hospital in Sahiwal but was fired in 2023 due to mental illness and drug addiction.

“Farhan had become a heroin addict, which aggravated his mental health,” she said. “We have tried to get him treated, but it didn’t work. Ever since he lost his job, Farhan used to loiter around the village all day saying absurd things. The entire village knows that he is of unsound mind.”

His sister said the family was surviving on the earnings of her and her mother.

“My mother and I are already under a lot of pressure and stress due to my brothers’ illness and drug addiction problem,” she said. “Now we are on a knife’s edge thinking what will happen to Farhan given how serious the accusation is.”

Intent must be proven for conviction on blasphemy charges in Pakistan, which carry punishments ranging from fines and prison to the death penalty.

Complainant Bilal Khan stated in the FIR that he was going to water his crops when Farhan Masih arrived and started speaking absurdities.

“The holy personages of your religion are false, and I don’t want to live among Muslims, because you belong to inferior status,” Masih purportedly told him, according to Khan’s police complaint.

Police registered a case against the Christian under the blasphemy statutes, including Section 295-A, which calls for imprisonment of up to 10 years for deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs; 298-A, with a punishment of up to 10 years in prison for disrespecting the wives and companions of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam; and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which includes a clause related to causing civil commotion or unrest and is punishable by a minimum five-year jail term.

Bishop Abraham Daniel of the Baptist Church in Sahiwal said there were 150 to 200 Christian families in the village.

“When I got news of the incident, I immediately contacted senior police officials and sought security for the Christian residents,” Daniel told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “Thankfully, timely police deployment prevented any untoward incident from taking place there, and the situation is peaceful now.”

He said that Masih’s mental illness should have protected him against arrest on blasphemy charges.

“Farhan has no control over his mind and does not comprehend the seriousness of the things that he says,” Daniel said. “He did not commit blasphemy intentionally, and the police and court must take his mental condition into account while judging the matter.”

Church of Pakistan’s Moderator Bishop Azad Marshall said a senior officer should have intervened as police knew the matter involved a person of unstable mind.

“Farhan’s case is particularly concerning because his mental illness raises serious questions on his ability to understand or commit the alleged offense,” Marshall told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “We have repeatedly called for reforms in Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, but unfortunately our pleas continue to be ignored despite several people falling victim to false accusations of blasphemy every second day.”

The senior church leader also expressed concern over reports of organized groups trapping youths in blasphemy cases across the country, regretting that the dangerous trend had made Christians more vulnerable to persecution.

“Hundreds of people, including Muslims, are being accused and jailed for blasphemy, but it’s very strange that despite this issue being highlighted by the media and even the National Commission for Human Rights, nothing is being done to dismantle such organized groups,” he said.

Spike in false accusations

In Muslim-majority Pakistan, any baseless blasphemy accusation can ignite public outrage and sometimes result in mob violence.

According to the Lahore-based advocacy group Center for Social Justice, 343 blasphemy cases were filed in Pakistan in 2024, including 19 Christians, five of them females.

Expressing alarm over an increase in false blasphemy accusations in Pakistan, the U.N. Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) on Nov. 7, 2024, urged repeal or amending of the country’s widely condemned blasphemy laws.

The committee noted that false blasphemy accusations led to Islamist mob violence and recommended amending the laws in accordance with requirements of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). In its concluding observations of the committee’s second periodic report on Pakistan, it stated concern over sections 295 and 298 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which carry severe penalties, including the death penalty, and have a disproportionate impact on religious minorities.

“It is also concerned about the increasing number of persons incarcerated under blasphemy charges, the high number of blasphemy cases based on false accusations, violence against those accused of blasphemy, fostering vigilante justice, and allegations of entrapment of persons, in particular young persons, on accusations of on-line blasphemy under cybercrime laws,” the committee stated.

It emphasized ending use of cybercrime laws, such as the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, to prosecute and detain those accused of breaching blasphemy laws online. The committee also urged the government to investigate allegations of massive abuse of blasphemy laws in connection with cybercrime laws and publish the results of the inquiries.

“[The committee] is also concerned about the chilling effect that criminal defamation laws, blasphemy, sedition and counter-terrorism laws, and other recently passed legislation have on the exercise of freedom of expression by journalists, activists, human rights defenders and members of ethnic and religious minorities,” it stated.

Urging Pakistan to take all necessary measures to guarantee prompt and fair trials for all persons charged with blasphemy or other offenses against religion, the committee highlighted jail conditions, stating that it was “also concerned about reports of abuse of women prisoners, including sexual violence, and that individuals accused of blasphemy are often placed in solitary confinement for extended periods of time. It remains concerned about the widespread recourse to prolonged pretrial detention.”

Pakistan ranked eighth on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian.
Sources:Christian Post

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ഐപിസി ഗ്ലോബൽ മീഡിയ യുഎഇ ചാപ്റ്ററിന് നവ നേതൃത്വം

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ഇന്ത്യാ പെന്തക്കോസ്ത് ദൈവസഭയിലെ എഴുത്തുകാരുടെയും മാധ്യമ പ്രവർത്തകരുടെയും ആഗോള കൂട്ടായ്മയായ ഐപിസി ഗ്ലോബൽ മീഡിയ അസോസിയേഷൻ യുഎഇ ചാപ്റ്റർ ഭാരവാഹികളായി പാസ്റ്റർ വിൽ‌സൺ ജോസഫ് (രക്ഷാധികാരി), ലാൽ മാത്യു (പ്രസിഡന്റ്‌), ഡോ. റോയ് ബി. കുരുവിള (വൈസ് പ്രസിഡന്റ്‌ ), കൊച്ചുമോൻ ആന്താര്യത്ത്‌ (സെക്രട്ടറി) , വിനോദ് എബ്രഹാം (ജോയിൻ്റ് സെക്രട്ടറി), നെവിൻ മങ്ങാട്ട് ( ട്രഷറർ ), പി. സി. ഗ്ലെന്നി (ജനറൽ കൗൺസിൽ അംഗം), പാസ്റ്റർ ജോൺ വർഗീസ്, ആന്റോ അലക്സ്‌ (കമ്മിറ്റി അംഗങ്ങൾ) എന്നിവരെ തിരെഞ്ഞെടുത്തു.

ഐപിസി ഗ്ലോബൽ മീഡിയ അസോസിയേഷൻ അന്തർ ദേശീയ ഭാരവാഹികളായ സജി മത്തായി കാതേട്ട് , ഷിബു മുള്ളംകാട്ടിൽ എന്നിവർ തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിന് നേതൃത്വം നൽകി. ഐപിസി യുഎഇ റീജിയൻ പ്രസിഡന്റ് പാസ്റ്റർ വിൽ‌സൺ ജോസഫ് അനുഗ്രഹ പ്രാർത്ഥന നടത്തി. എഴുത്തുകാരനും പി വൈ പി എ കേരള സ്റ്റേറ്റ് ജോയിൻ്റ് സെക്രട്ടറിയുമായ സന്ദീപ് വിളമ്പുകണ്ടം പ്രസംഗിച്ചു.
Sources:christiansworldnews

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The IPC Global Media Association, a global association of writers and media workers of the Indian Pentecostal Church of God, has elected Pastor Wilson Joseph (Patron), Lal Mathew (President), Dr. Roy B. Kuruvilla (Vice President), Kochumon Antaryath (Secretary), Vinod Abraham (Joint Secretary), Nevin Mangat (Treasurer), P. C. Glennie (General Council Member), Pastor John Varghese and Anto Alex (Committee Members) as the office bearers of the UAE Chapter of the IPC Global Media Association.

The election was led by IPC Global Media Association International Office Bearers Saji Mathai Kathet and Shibu Mullamkattil. IPC UAE Region President Pastor Wilson Joseph offered the blessing prayer. Sandeep Vilampukandam, writer and PYPA Kerala State Joint Secretary, delivered the speech.
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മൊസാംബിക്കില്‍ വൈദികര്‍ക്കും സെമിനാരി വിദ്യാര്‍ത്ഥിയ്ക്കും നേരെ ആക്രമണം

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കാബോ ഡെൽഗാഡോ: ആഫ്രിക്കന്‍ രാജ്യമായ മൊസാംബിക്കിലെ ബെയ്‌റ അതിരൂപതയിലെ നസാരെ പരിശീലന കേന്ദ്രത്തിൽ സായുധധാരികള്‍ നടത്തിയ ആക്രമണത്തില്‍ രണ്ടു വൈദികര്‍ക്കും ഒരു സെമിനാരി വിദ്യാര്‍ത്ഥിയ്ക്കും പരിക്ക്. ഫെബ്രുവരി 23 ഞായറാഴ്ചയാണ് ആക്രമണം നടന്നത്. ഞായറാഴ്ച പുലർച്ചെ പിസ്റ്റളുകളും വടിവാളുകളും ഇരുമ്പു ദണ്ഡുകളും സഹിതം സായുധരായ ഒരു സംഘം ആളുകൾ സ്ഥാപനത്തിൽ പ്രവേശിച്ച് അവിടെയുണ്ടായിരുന്ന മൂന്ന് മിഷ്ണറിമാരെ ആക്രമിക്കുകയായിരിന്നുവെന്ന് മൊസാംബിക്കിലെ റിലീജീയസ് ഇൻസ്റ്റിറ്റ്യൂട്ട് കോൺഫറൻസ്, പൊന്തിഫിക്കല്‍ സന്നദ്ധ സംഘടനയായ എയിഡ് ടു ചർച്ച് ഇൻ നീഡ് (എസിഎൻ)നോട് പറഞ്ഞു.

ആക്രമണത്തെത്തുടർന്ന് രാജ്യത്തിലെ അരക്ഷിതാവസ്ഥയെക്കുറിച്ച് റിലീജീയസ് കോൺഫറൻസ് ഉത്കണ്ഠ പ്രകടിപ്പിച്ചു. രാജ്യത്തിന് വേണ്ടി സമാധാനത്തിനായി പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കുവാന്‍ സംഘടന ആഹ്വാനം നല്‍കി. മൊസാംബിക്കൻ അതിരൂപതയുടെ രൂപീകരണ കോഴ്സുകൾ ഉൾപ്പെടെ വിവിധ പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങളാല്‍ സജീവമായ സ്ഥാപനത്തിൽ രണ്ട് വൈദികരെയും സെമിനാരി വിദ്യാര്‍ത്ഥിയേയും കൊള്ളക്കാർ കെട്ടിയിട്ട് പീഡിപ്പിക്കുകയായിരുന്നുവെന്നു സംഘടന വെളിപ്പെടുത്തി. ആശുപത്രിയില്‍ പ്രവേശിപ്പിക്കപ്പെട്ടവരില്‍ മൂന്ന് പേരും അപകടനില തരണം ചെയ്തുവെന്നും ഇവര്‍ക്ക് ചെറിയ പരിക്കുകള്‍ മാത്രമേ ഉണ്ടായിട്ടുള്ളൂവെന്നും എയിഡ് ടു ചർച്ച് ഇൻ നീഡ് അറിയിച്ചു.

ആക്രമണത്തിന് ഇരകളിൽ ഒരാളായ ഫാ. തിമോത്തി ബയോനോ, ബുർക്കിന ഫാസോയിൽ നിന്നുള്ള ഒരു വൈദികനാണ്. മൊസാംബിക്കിലെ ജനസംഖ്യയുടെ മൂന്നിലൊന്ന് ക്രൈസ്തവരാണ്. ആഭ്യന്തര കലഹങ്ങളും ഇസ്ലാമിക തീവ്രവാദികളുടെ വ്യാപനവുമാണ് ക്രൈസ്തവര്‍ക്ക് ഏറെ വെല്ലുവിളി സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്നത്. രാജ്യത്ത് ഇസ്ലാമിക തീവ്രവാദം ഉയര്‍ത്തുന്ന വെല്ലുവിളി എന്നത്തേക്കാളും ഉയര്‍ന്ന അവസ്ഥയിലാണെന്നും പ്രാദേശിക മേഖലകളില്‍ നിന്നു ക്രൈസ്തവര്‍ കൂട്ടത്തോടെ പലായനം ചെയ്യുകയാണെന്നും വടക്കൻ മൊസാംബിക്കിലെ പെംബ രൂപതയിലെ ബിഷപ്പ് അൻ്റോണിയോ ജൂലിയാസ് എയിഡ് ടു ദ ചര്‍ച്ച് ഇന്‍ നീഡിനോട് നേരത്തെ വെളിപ്പെടുത്തിയിരിന്നു .
കടപ്പാട് :പ്രവാചക ശബ്ദം

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Fear has gripped the Nazaré Training Center in Mozambique’s Archdiocese of Beira following a Sunday, Feb. 23, attack that left two priests and a religious brother at the facility injured.

The Conference of Religious Institutes of Mozambique told Catholic pontifical and charity foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International that a group of men armed with pistols, machetes, and irons entered the institution in the early hours of Feb. 23, violently attacking three missionaries who were there.

According to a Feb. 25 ACN report, the conference “expressed its concern about the insecurity” in the southern African nation following the attack and appealed for prayers for peace in the country.

ACN reported that the two priests and brother were “tied up and tortured by the bandits” at the institution, which engages in various activities, including formation courses for the Mozambican archdiocese.

Fortunately, according to the report, all three men “are out of danger” and suffered only “minor pain and injuries.”

One of the victims, Father Timothée Bationo, is a priest from Burkina Faso who celebrated two decades of priesthood in December 2024 and is currently the episcopal vicar for consecrated life of the Archdiocese of Beira. He is responsible for the Nazaré Training Centre.

ACN said the attack on the Catholic institution occurred at a sensitive moment in the political life of the Portuguese-speaking African nation, which has been wreaked by political upheaval following a contested presidential election.

Mozambique, ACN said, also continues to suffer from attacks by the Al Shahab militants, especially in the country’s northern province of Cabo Delgado.

In its report, ACN quotes one of the victims as saying that the robbery incident was being handled by security officials, who he said are yet to provide details about the robbers, including their identity and what they might have stolen.
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Blasphemy Accusations Fuel Violence Against Christians in Northern Nigeria

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Nigeria — Christians in northern Nigeria continue to face increasing violence over accusations of blasphemy, often leading to mob attacks, destruction of property, and forced displacement.

While Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, the application of Sharia law in 12 northern states has created a parallel legal system where blasphemy charges frequently lead to vigilante justice rather than formal prosecution.

The case of Sadiq Mani Abubakar, a 45-year-old Hausa Christian and lecturer at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma in Katsina state, illustrates the growing trend. On Jan. 30, a mob set his home and vehicles on fire, forcing him and his family to flee. The attack stemmed from a decade-old Facebook post in which Abubakar questioned the origins of the Quran. While some Islamic scholars consider the post blasphemous, accusations spread, and a mob responded with violence.

“I fled for my life, yet the federal government acted swiftly against me,” Abubakar told an International Christian Concern (ICC) staffer, referring to the suspension of his salary following his escape. “I feel utterly abandoned by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). I can’t even seek legal help because I fear for my family’s safety back in Katsina.”

Similar incidents have occurred across northern Nigeria. In May 2022, a mob in Sokoto state killed and burned the body of Deborah Emmanuel, a Christian college student, over allegations of blasphemy in a WhatsApp group. In June 2023, a man in Bauchi state was beaten to death after being accused of insulting Islam. Law enforcement has rarely prosecuted those responsible for these killings.

A 2020 report by the United Nations Commission on International Religious Freedom documented an increase in blasphemy-related violence in Nigeria, particularly in states governed by Sharia law. The report noted that such accusations often target religious minorities and that perpetrators of mob violence frequently evade prosecution.

Abubakar expressed frustration over the lack of accountability. “The authorities, the commissioner of police, who is supposed to bring to book the perpetrators, didn’t arrest anybody,” he said. “So, every Muslim is an authority. They take the law into their own hands and go scot-free.”

Christian communities in northern Nigeria have long raised concerns about inadequate protection from security forces. Human rights organizations, including Open Doors and Human Rights Watch, have reported that police often hesitate to intervene in mob violence cases, either due to fear of backlash or lack of political will.

Victims of blasphemy accusations often suffer economic consequences. Many lose their homes and livelihoods after fleeing violence. Abubakar, unable to return to Katsina, is struggling financially after he lost his income. Other displaced Christians face similar hardships, relying on support from religious organizations and humanitarian groups.

Nigeria’s dual legal system, which operates both secular and Sharia law, complicates efforts to address religious violence. While the constitution protects freedom of speech and religion, blasphemy laws under Sharia often conflict with these rights.

The Nigerian Supreme Court has not ruled decisively on the matter, leaving room for varying interpretations at the state level.

In some cases, individuals accused of blasphemy have faced formal prosecution. In August 2020, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a musician from Kano state, was sentenced to death for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad in a song. He said, “I prefer my prophet to Prophet Mohammed.” His conviction was later overturned on appeal, but he remains in legal limbo. In contrast, those who carry out mob attacks based on similar accusations often face no legal consequences.

Abubakar called for international awareness and intervention. “I want the Nigerian government, human rights organizations, and the international community to be aware of what has happened to me and is still happening,” he said. “They can put a stop to it and impose the rule of law and order and the restoration of fundamental human rights.”

The pattern of blasphemy-related violence continues. Also, in January 2025, three people were killed in Bauchi state following an accusation against a Christian trader. With limited legal protections and growing religious tensions, many Christians in northern Nigeria remain at risk. Abubakar is one of them, hiding to protect his life, not to be killed like others.
Sources:persecution

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