Pakistan: Christian man detained on charges of blasphemy for sharing Facebook post with Bible verse

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Continuing the brutal clamp down on Christians in Pakistan, authorities in Punjab province have arrested and detained a Christian for alleged blasphemy on the grounds that he shared a Facebook post with a Scripture that was deemed insulting to Islam, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Following a complaint by local Muslim local Muslim Muhammad Awais, on July 8 police arrested Zaki Masih of Chak 98 Shumaali village, Punjab, for a June 29 Facebook post about 1 Corinthians 10:18-21 prohibition against food sacrificed to idols, MSN reports. The post was deemed a blasphemous insult to Islam as Muslims were beginning the festival of Eid al-Adha which involves slaughtering an animal and sharing the meat.

While Masih denies the post was intended as an insult, police arrested him Masih under Section 295-A of Pakistan’s blasphemy statutes relating to “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs,” punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine or both. Masih was further charged under Section 298 against hurting religious sentiments, punishable by up to one year in prison, a fine or both, MSN reports. Masih remains in custody while preparations are made for a bail application this week.

“Blasphemy laws are often used as a weapon of revenge against both Muslims and non-Muslims to settle personal scores or to resolve disputes over money, property or business,” MSN explained in its report. “A mere allegation is enough to provoke a mob to riot and lynch falsely accused suspects in Pakistan.”

“As of May 15, 57 cases of alleged blasphemy have been reported this year. Punjab Province tops the list with 28 cases, followed by Sindh Province with 16, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province with 8 and Kashmir Province with 5,” MSN reports.

Pakistan ranks 7th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.

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