Pakistan: Christian councillor goes into hiding amid blasphemy accusations

In yet another blasphemy case against Christians in Pakistan, an independent village councillor has been accused of entering a mosque and insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

Father of three Waris Masih denies the charges, brought against him on August 21 by three Muslim men in the village of Rajkot, in Gujranwala district, Punjab.

Police have registered a case under section 295-C, which carries a mandatory death penalty for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

Masih says this is not the first time a false case has been registered against him and that previous attempts to indict him have failed.

Two days before a case was registered against him, a mob of hundreds of Muslims reportedly blocked roads in Gujranwala to protest his supposed blasphemy offences and press for his arrest.

The case has forced Masih and his family to go into hiding for fear of their lives, while local Christians fear being attacked by extremists.

The predominantly Muslim village is home to around 35 Christian households, the majority of which have been there since before the formation of Pakistan.

Nasir Saeed, Director of the UK branch of the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), said Pakistan’s blasphemy laws were being misused by Muslims to persecute religious minorities, particularly Christians, and settle personal scores.

Part of the antagonism, he believes, lies in the foreign policies of Western countries, as many Pakistanis believe that Christians are conspirators of the West.

CLAAS is calling on the Pakistani government to review the blasphemy laws and amend them so that they can no longer be used by extremists to take the law into their own hands.

“The situation in Pakistan is very delicate right now and extremists can become enraged over very minor incidents or grievances. It is all too easy for them to use the blasphemy laws against Christians as the legal terms are so vague and evidence can be easily fabricated,” said Mr Saeed.

He expressed grave concern over the welfare of Christians in light of the recent murders of pastors Rashid and Sajid Emmanuel outside a Faisalabad courthouse.

“These men were not even given the chance to prove themselves innocent,” he said.

“Christians are living under constant fear because of the blasphemy laws. Their fear has only increased in the wake of these killings, yet the government remains unwilling to review the blasphemy laws and the parliamentary opposition openly opposes any changes to them.

“So long as this remains the case, it will be hard for Christians to put their faith in the Pakistani government on any matter.”