Pakistan: Christian Man Charged With Blasphemy for Posting Scripture on Facebook, Finally Released on Bail
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – A Christian man in Punjab, Pakistan, has gone into hiding with his family after finally being released on bail pending trial for alleged blasphemy against Islam, the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) reports.
Haroon Shehzad, a 49-year-old Christian man from Sargodha city in Punjab Province, was arrested after he shared Bible verses on Facebook on 27th July 2023, BACA reports. The verses were 1 Corinthians chapter 10: 18–22, which refer to food sacrificed to devils; Shehzad shared the Scriptures two days before the Islamic holiday of Eid-Ul-Adha.
Shehzad was arrested after his Muslim neighbor Imran Ullah Sargodha reported him to the police, complaining that the Scriptures were posted as a condemnation of the Eid’s Sacrifice, where meat that is sacrificed is shared to be eaten, BACA reports. Shehzad was remanded in custody and was only granted bail by the Lahore High Court on November 6.
Shahzad denies he had any intention of condemning Islam through his post, BACA said. In any event, he and his family have gone into hiding – and are continually moving from place to place – because the accusation has stirred up Muslim neighbors against them.
“Shahzad and his family continue to face social stigma and hardship, while the accuser faces no consequences for the false accusation,” BACA said.
Ruled by a harsh Islamic government, 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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