Pakistan: Police Hunting Down Man Accused of Blasphemy against Islam

A Christian man who has been accused by a Muslim friend of blasphemy has fled his home and is being hunted by police.

 

The Associated Press reports that the Christian man was accused of sending a poem to a Muslim friend that allegedly blasphemed Islam. 

 

The incident occurred in the town of Sara-e-Alamghir in Punjab province. Local police official Mohammad Asim reported that the Christian man fled after being accused. Police are currently searching for him and are guarding a local church.

 

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have faced widespread criticism as they are often exploited in order to settle personal disputes. In large part due to the blasphemy laws, Pakistan ranks as one of the world’s worst countries for persecution of Christians, according to Open Doors’ World Watch List.

 

Recently, a Pakistani human rights lawyer who defended Christians was forced to go into hiding after receiving death threats. And last year, a Christian couple was burned to death in a brick kiln for allegedly blaspheming against the Quran.