LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A Christian couple in Punjab Province incapable of writing proper Urdu was sentenced to death today for allegedly sending blasphemous text messages, bringing the number of Christians on death row in Pakistan to four. In a country reeling from increasing religious intolerance, the death knell for Shafqat Emmanuel Masih and […]
Christian Couple in Pakistan Sentenced to Death for ‘Blasphemy’
Sentence comes eight days after second Christian handed death penalty.
April 4, 2014 By -
Attorneys, Rights Groups Blast Death Sentence for Christian in Pakistan
Sawan Masih becomes second Christian on death row for alleged remarks.
March 28, 2014 By -
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – Rights groups and attorneys slammed the death sentence handed down to a Christian yesterday, saying the case for his blasphemy conviction was weak while Muslims who destroyed houses and shops in his neighborhood have been freed on bail. Sawan Masih, now the second Christian on death row on blasphemy charges […]
Islamic Extremist Threats in Pakistan Could Quash Prosecution of Bhatti Murder
Terrorists drive victim’s brother from country, demand release of suspects.
February 14, 2014 By -
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – Suspects in the murder of Pakistan’s first Christian cabinet minister, Shahbaz Bhatti, could walk free due to intimidation tactics by Islamic extremists, Christians fear. The suspects have confessed, according to Dr. Paul Bhatti, brother of former Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, who was gunned down on March 2, 2011. […]
Morning Star News’ Top 10 Persecution Stories of 2013
In Nigeria, terrorists weren’t the only ones terrorizing Christians.
January 10, 2014 By -
(Morning Star News) – Last year Egypt saw its greatest level of attacks on Christians; more Christians were killed in Syria’s civil war than anywhere else; and an Islamist rebel take-over in the Central African Republic brought new atrocities to the historically unstable country. But where political instability and civil war were not contributing factors, […]
Death Penalty Order Deepens Hard-line Islamist Trend in Pakistan, Critics Say
Ruling could broaden powers of Federal Shariat Court, they fear.
December 30, 2013 By -
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – Compliance with an order that only the death sentence can be given to those convicted of insulting Islam’s prophet will further endanger Christians and increase the powers of the Islamic court that issued it, critics said. While Christians fear that government compliance with the Federal Shariat Court’s (FSC) Dec. 4 […]
Despite Settlement, ‘Blasphemy’ Charge Sought against Christian in Pakistan
Complainant, mullah seek to make example of illiterate vendor.
November 15, 2013 By -
ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – An illiterate vendor in Pakistan beaten by an Islamic mob for unwittingly using pages containing Koranic verses received “forgiveness” from his accusers, but the complainant filed a blasphemy case against the Christian anyway under direction from Islamic leaders. In Pakistan’s northeastern town of Wazirabad, 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Lahore, […]
Fearing Assassination, Christian Accused of ‘Blasphemy’ in Pakistan Turns Himself In
Adnan Masih will likely be held in prison for security reasons.
November 7, 2013 By -
ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – A young evangelist in Pakistan, in hiding after being accused of blaspheming Islam’s prophet, has surrendered to police due to serious threats to his life from Islamic extremists, his lawyer said. Attorney Aneeqa Maria, head of The Voice Society, told Morning Star News that Adnan Masih agreed to surrender to police […]
Police, Islamic Extremists in Pakistan Hunt for Christian Accused of ‘Blasphemy’
Young evangelist in hiding denies charges, sources say.
October 25, 2013 By -
ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – Police and a banned Islamic extremist group in Lahore, Pakistan are searching for a young Christian accused of blasphemy – with the extremist group calling for his death – after he sought to correct misconceptions about Christianity in a Muslim book, sources said. Sources close to Adnan Masih, 26, said he […]
Muslims in Pakistan Arrested on Forcible Conversion Charges
Assailants in Islamabad beat three Christians, shoot at house, police say.
October 24, 2013 By -
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News ) – Police in Islamabad have arrested three Muslims for pistol-whipping a Christian and his teenage nephews after they refused to convert to Islam, sources said. The assailants in an Islamabad suburb allegedly have links to a banned Islamic extremist group. The primary suspect, Muhammad Nadeem, and others approached a […]
Islamic Extremists Bomb Church in Pakistan, Attack Shopping Mall in Kenya
Scale of attack in Peshawar unprecedented; non-Muslims targeted in Nairobi.
September 22, 2013 By -
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – Islamic extremists today killed at least 78 people in an unprecedented church bombing in Pakistan, a day after Muslim militants in Kenya targeted non-Muslims in a mall attack that left at least 68 dead. Believed to be the deadliest assault on Christians in Pakistan, two suicide bombers struck All Saints […]