Pakistan: Christian flees from law that imprisoned relatives

Ahmadiyya Times

A Pakistani Christian is in fear of his life because of a frequently misused blasphemy law. The law provides the death penalty for blaspheming Mohammed or the Koran. In the latest case, Adnan Masih, a Christian lay pastor, ran into a problem while at work. William Stark of International Christian Concern tells OneNewsNow he found a coworker's book, an extremist text against Christianity. “He wasn't offended by the book but he wanted to answer the book's questions,” he explains. “So, as he sat at his work station reading through this book, he made notes in the book questioning the points and putting counter arguments supported by biblical texts to refute the anti-Christian claims of this book.” The owner of the book found it, took it to police and filed a blasphemy charge. Adnan found out, skipped town and is now in hiding, but there is an additional twist to the story. “Adnan's brother, the Christian owner of the workplace that he was at and Adnan's cousin have all been arrested and are currently imprisoned so that the police can pressure Adnan into turning himself in.” If he does, he could be killed by extremist mobs or sentenced to death by the state. Stark is calling for prayer. Meanwhile, Asia Bibi, who was sentenced to death by hanging four years ago on a false blasphemy charge, remains in prison.