LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Federal agents in Pakistan last week arrested a Christian under a blasphemy law mandating the death penalty in relation to material that appeared on Facebook groups without his knowledge, sources said. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials took 24-year-old Arsalan Gill of Railway Quarters in Mughalpura, Lahore, into custody […]
Christian in Pakistan Charged with Blasphemy for Facebook Post
Impoverished sweeper says he has no knowledge of alleged material.
Muslim Slashes Throat of Christian Co-Worker in Pakistan
Suspect accused Waqas Masih of blasphemy.
LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – A Muslim in Pakistan on Friday (March 21) slashed the throat of a Christian co-worker on allegations that he had committed blasphemy by touching an Islamic textbook “with unclean hands,” sources said. The attack on Waqas Masih, 22, took place at Subhan Allah Paper Mills in the Sharaqpur […]
Christian’s Release Delayed after Bail Granted in Blasphemy Cases
Under pressure from Islamists, judge finds pretexts for denying freedom.
LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – An 18-year-old Christian is still languishing in jail a month after winning bail in all three blasphemy cases against him as a trial court is delaying his release, his father said. Sargodha Additional Sessions Judge Naveed Khaliq initially gave the family of Akash Karamat, who has been jailed […]
Deterioration of Human Rights in Pakistan Condemned at UN Event
Trade and aid must be conditional on real reforms, advocates say.
LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Religious freedom advocates this month strongly condemned deterioration of human rights in Pakistan, particularly continued abuse of the country’s harsh blasphemy laws and forced conversions of minority girls. They delivered the scathing rebukes during the 58th Regular Session of the U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva on […]
Court Annuls Christian Woman’s Forced Marriage/Conversion
Ruling marks significant human rights victory in Pakistan.
LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – In a significant legal victory against forced conversions/marriages in Pakistan, a civil court has annulled the marriage of a Christian woman who was given to a Muslim man as a child and coerced to convert to Islam and marry him, sources said. Bahawalpur Civil Judge Afzal Baig on […]
Judge Implicated in Blasphemy Entrapment Ring Resigns
Lahore High Court justice cites 'personal reasons.'
LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – A high court judge in Pakistan resigned last week after a media report exposed his alleged close ties with a criminal gang falsely charging Christians and others with blasphemy, sources said. Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday (March 6) sent his resignation […]
Report Shows Increase in Anti-Christian Incidents in India
The 640 documented cases in 2024 are only a part of the actual total.
NEW DELHI (Morning Star News) – Christians in India suffered high levels of violence and discrimination in 2024, with 640 cases marking a continued increase over prior years, according to the Evangelical Fellowship of India’s Religious Liberty Commission (EFIRLC). The 640 incidents compared with 601 cases documented in 2023 and marked nearly a quadrupling of incidents […]
Police Free Christian Girl from Kidnapper in Pakistan
12-year-old forcibly converted to Islam and coerced into sham marriage.
LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – A 12-year-old Christian girl reunited with her parents last week after she was abducted two months prior by a Muslim neighbor who forcibly converted her to Islam and coerced her into marrying him, sources said. Saba Shafique was abducted by Muhammad Ali, 35, from outside her home in […]
Christian Couple in India Convicted of ‘Forced Conversion’ Wins Bail
Sentenced to five years in prison, pastor and wife appeal.
NEW DELHI (Morning Star News) – A Christian couple in India convicted of forcible conversion despite lack of evidence and sentenced to five years in prison has won bail while they appeal, sources said. Pastor Jose Pappachen, 58, and his wife Sheeja Pappachen, 57, were released on Feb. 19 after a Sessions Court in Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar […]
Christian Mother in Pakistan Abducted, Forcibly Converted/Wedded
Married Muslim co-worker still threatening her husband.
LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – A Muslim in Pakistan who twice abducted a Christian mother raped her, fraudulently converted her to Islam and fabricated an Islamic marriage, sources said. The suspect, Muhammad Asif Sadiq, is still threatening her husband, demanding that he return his “wife” and withdraw charges against him, said Asif Maih, […]