Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Acquitted

Sentence: Originally Life Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: July/1/2009

Date of Sentencing: January/11/2010

Date of Release: December//2021

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Texts)

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Hate Speech

Imran Ghafur Masih

Extra Bio Info:

Imran Ghafur Masih was imprisoned for blasphemy.

On July 1, 2009, authorities arrested Masih after he was accused of burning a Qur'an.  Following the accusation, a mob attacked Masih and his family and attempted to burn down their home.

On January 11, 2010, the Sessions Court of Faisalabad found Masih guilty of "intending to outrage religious feelings" (Sec. 295-A PPC) and "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B PPC).  It sentenced him to life in prison and fined him 100,000 rupees.

On December 15, 2020, the Lahore High Court acquitted Masih. He was released following the ruling. 

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