Pakistani Judge Rescinds Bail in Blasphemy Case after Threats from Local Attorneys
02/10/2021 Pakistan (International Christian Concern) – Blasphemy cases in Pakistan continue to create upheaval both inside and outside the courtrooms. The most recent victim of these laws is Syed Wajid Ali Kazmi, a man accused for an alleged blasphemous post on his WhatsApp profile. The incident drew outrage and eventually made it to the courtroom, where the judge granted bail for Kazmi. However, due to the extreme pressure and threats on the judge from a local mob and a society of lawyers known as the Khatm e Nabuwwat lawyers forum, the judge rescinded the bail.
02/04/2021 Pakistan (International Christian Concern) – In 2019, a 14-year-old Christian girl named Azrah was hired as a housemaid in a Muslim family’s home. The Muslim family was hosting a wedding, so Azrah was hired to clean the house and help serve the guests. Due to her late work hours, Azrah would sometimes stay overnight at her employer’s home.
During the week of the wedding, one of the men in the Muslim family sexually assaulted Azrah. When she resisted and mentioned informing the family elders, she was locked in a room and repeatedly beaten. She was also falsely accused of stealing jewelry, money, and other valuables from the family home. As a result, the police registered a report against Azrah, her parents, and her fiancé. Although they were all released on bail, the family has been struggling financially ever since, as the majority of employers in their area have denied them jobs due to the false accusation against Azrah.
Release of Daniel Pearl’s Murderers Creates Tension in US-Pakistan Relationship
02/03/2021 Pakistan (International Christian Concern) – The recent release of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the murderer of American journalist Daniel Pearl, created a rough start to Antony Blinken’s tenure as Secretary of State. The Secretary expressed Washington’s deep concerns to Pakistani officials over the Pakistani Supreme Court’s decision to acquit the murderers. Saeed Sheikh and his accomplices kidnapped and beheaded Daniel Pearl in 2002 and were subsequently arrested and imprisoned.
International Christian Concern has covered the developments in Pakistan’s troubled religious freedom record for many years. A large piece of the how religious freedom develops in Pakistan depends on the relationship that the United States carries with Pakistan which has seen more downs than ups over the years. This decision by the Pakistani Supreme Court definitely harms this already delicate relationship.
Hope for Maher
As a result of the lockdown in Egypt, an estimated 80% of the nation’s Christian population lost their employment.
02/03/2021 Pakistan (International Christian Concern) – One of the most devastating impacts of COVID-19 has undoubtedly been the economic toll it has taken. Businesses have shut their doors, employees have been laid off, and hours have been cut. In many persecuted communities, Christians have felt the pain of this financial downturn more acutely.
As a result of the lockdown in Egypt, an estimated 80% of the nation’s Christian population lost their employment overnight. By
comparison, in April, Egypt’s unemployment rate across the entire population was 9.2%. Many Egyptian families that suffer a blow to their income are forced to send their children out into the workforce. Although this relieves their immediate struggles, the