ASIA/PAKISTAN - Remand for Christian charged with blasphemy

Sargodha (Agenzia Fides) – A lower Court of justice has granted bail to a young Christian mas detained since 8 October for suspected blasphemy. Naveed John, aged 24, who offers healing prayers in his home at the request of believers, was tricked by a Muslim and accused of scorning certain verses of the Koran (see Fides 15/10/2015). His lawyers took the case to Court, explaining that the accusations were false. After listening to the lawyers the Court released the young Christian on bail.
Christian lawyer Sardar Mushtaq Gill, head of Lead NGO, told Fides that he welcomes the Court decision but remains seriously concerned “because this is accusation of an innocent person” and he is “worried about the safety of Naveed John, after Muslim extremists chanted slogans like ‘for blasphemy death is the only punishment’ ”. Recently in the district of Kasur, Pakistani Christian Pervaiz Masih, detained on 2 September on charges of blasphemy was released on bail (see Fides 13/10/2015). (PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/10/2015)

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