Pakistani Pastor denied Bail for Blasphemy
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (Worthy News)– A Pakistani Pastor arrested for blasphemy in Sanghla Hill, Punjab Province, was denied bail Tuesday, according to the Pakistan Christian Post.
Pastor Karama Patras was arrested for blasphemy after police took him into protective custody when a Muslim mob attacked his home.
Earlier this month, Patras was holding a prayer meeting in house of a Christian family when someone raised questions about the feast of the sacrifice, Eid-Ul-Adha, and what the meat from this sacrifice meant to Christians.
When Patras answered from the Bible — most likely I Cor. 10:28-29 — Muslim neighbors who overheard the discussion quickly told other Muslims.
By the time the meeting ended and Patras was returning to his own home, he heard Imams on mosque loudspeakers calling upon their fellow Muslims to punish the pastor for prohibiting Eid-Ul-Adha to Christians.
“Pastor Karma Patras is a blasphemer and infidel, liable to be killed,” upon which hundreds of Muslims attacked Patras’ home, according to the Post.
Police rushed to scene and rescued Patras from a mob that was beating him and destroying his household.
Patras was charged under Section 295-A of Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws; he is represented by Tahir Naveed who was also the defense lawyer in the Rimsha Masih blasphemy case.