Search Results for: asia bibi

Christian in Pakistan Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for ‘Blasphemy’

Scanty evidence calls for acquittal, attorney says.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A court in Pakistan has sentenced a Christian to life in prison under the country’s blasphemy laws in spite of scanty evidence, an advocacy official said. Nasir Saeed said a trial court in Rawalpindi sentenced Zafar Bhatti to life imprisonment, even though conviction under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s blasphemy law […]

Violence against Muslims Accused of Blasphemy in Pakistan Spurs Calls for Reform of Laws

Christians long persecuted under the statutes are hopeful.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – Gruesome violence against Muslims accused of blasphemy in Pakistan has reignited calls for amending blasphemy statutes commonly used to persecute Christians. The lynching of a Muslim student over blasphemy charges at a university in northwestern Pakistan, the murder of a blasphemy accused Muslim in Punjab Province and mob violence against […]

Morning Star News’ Top 10 Persecution Stories of 2016

Jihadists fight under the radar in Africa.

(Morning Star News) – While war in the Middle East dominated international headlines, Islamic extremists in the shadows were taking jihad to Christian civilians in Africa with unprecedented intensity in 2016. In Nigeria, Muslim ethnic Fulanis looked less like nomadic herdsmen and more like well-armed, well-funded jihadist militants. Close Muslim relatives and Islamist village mobs […]

Christian in Pakistan Jailed under Vindictive Blasphemy Charge, Sources Say

Separately, son of slain Punjab governor threatened.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – Muslims in Pakistan have filed a blasphemy charge against a Christian in retaliation for refusing their demand that he and others cede church land to them, sources said.

Taliban Splinter Group in Pakistan Targets Christians in Easter Suicide Bombing

Explosive detonated near children’s rides at park.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A deadly suicide bombing in a public park here marred Easter celebrations in Pakistan on Sunday evening (March 27), as an Islamic extremist group targeted Christians. At least 74 people have been reported dead, most of them women and children, while 362 others were injured. Of those being treated at […]

Morning Star News’ Top 10 Persecution Stories of 2015

Islamic violence accelerates in countries not known for religious conflict.

(Morning Star News) – Islamic extremist violence in countries not known for religious tensions, majority-Christian Kenya and Uganda, topped Morning Star News’ stories in 2015. While the Islamic State terrorized Christians in Syria, Iraq and Libya, and Muslim Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria killed innocent civilians in the shadow of Boko Haram, in northeast Kenya Al […]

Supreme Court Ruling Said to Signal Positive Change in Pakistan

Upholding of death sentence for killer of critic of blasphemy laws a ‘strong sign,’ advocates say.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A Supreme Court decision to uphold the death sentence for an Islamist who killed Punjab Gov. Salman Taseer because of his objections to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws signals government resolve against Islamic extremism, human rights advocates said. The high court on Wednesday (Oct. 7) upheld the October 2011 death sentence for […]

Christian in Pakistan Killed, Wife Shot by Muslim Relatives, Attorney Says

Elsewhere, three Christians accused of blasphemy for using Urdu word for ‘apostle.’

LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – Islamist groups are threatening the family and attorney of a young Christian man shot dead by Muslim in-laws who also wounded his wife over her decision to marry him and leave Islam, the attorney said. Aleem Masih, 28, married Nadia, 23, last year after she put her faith in Christ. […]

Supreme Court of Pakistan Agrees to Hear Appeal of Christian Mother on Death Row

Execution of Asia Bibi suspended until final ruling.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – Pakistan’s Supreme Court today agreed to review the case of a Christian mother sentenced to death on a blasphemy charge, temporarily suspending her execution. Aasiya Noreen, commonly known as Asia Bibi, is the first woman to be sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan. The three-judge bench of the Supreme Court […]

Islamic Cleric in Pakistan Arrested in Mob Attack on Christians Accused of Blasphemy

Rare instance of police intervention saves couple.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – In a rare move by Pakistani police, an Islamist cleric was taken into custody on Friday (July 3) for inciting a Muslim mob to try to kill a Christian couple for alleged desecration of the Koran, a police official said. Area residents and rights activists told Morning Star News that hundreds […]