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Local priest condemns arrest of Christian nurses in Pakistan
Nurses Mariam Lal (second left) and Newish Urooj (second right) are pictured with police in this April 2021 photo. The women, both Christian, were accused of violating Pakistan’s blasphemy law during an April 8 shift at the Civil Hospital in Faisalabad. (Photo courtesy of INCPak)
By Gina Christian • Posted April 28, 2021
An archdiocesan priest originally from Pakistan has condemned the recent arrest of two Christian nurses on charges of blasphemy in his native country.
“Unfortunately, the numbers of such false cases against Christian women are increasing,” said Father Tariq Isaac, chaplain of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Pakistani Catholic community and parochial vicar at St. William Parish in Philadelphia.
Anger as blasphemy case press conference is blocked in Pakistan
Church advocates say a false case against Christian nurses was registered under public pressure
The families of the Christian nurses accused of blasphemy meet Father Khalid Rashid (second right), former vicar general of Faisalabad Diocese, on April 9. (Photo: Father Khalid Rashid)
Catholic officials and lawyers in Pakistan are upset about not being allowed to a hold a press conference following the arrest of two Christian nurses for alleged blasphemy.
On April 9, staff nurse Mariam Lal and student nurse Newish Urooj were detained by police after a first information report under section 295-B of the blasphemy law was made by Dr. Mirza Muhammad Ali of Civil Hospital, Faisalabad, who accused them of scratching a sticker inscribed with “Durood Shareef,” a salutation for Prophet Muhammad.
Christian nurses saved from mob after blasphemy claim in Pakistan
Bishop Rehmat leads Catholic delegation to meet police as priest claims nurses are being targeted by unfounded allegations
Bishop Indrias Rehmat (right) with a Catholic delegation at Civil Lines Police Station in Faisalabad on April 9. (Photo supplied)
Two Christian nurses were rescued by policemen from an enraged mob after being accused of blasphemy by their hospital’s staff in Pakistan.
Staff nurse Mariam Lal and student nurse Newish Urooj were detained by police after a first information report (FIR) under section 295-B of the blasphemy law was made by Dr. Mirza Muhammad Ali of Civil Hospital, Faisalabad.