Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Pakistan
Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other
Health Concerns: Diabetes, heart disease, headaches
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Death
Sentence: Originally Life Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: July/22/2012
Date of Sentencing: January//2022
Current Status: Deceased
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Online Activity
Nature of Charges: Blasphemy
Zafar Bhatti
Extra Bio Info:
Zafar Bhatti was imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy.
On July 22, 2012, authorities arrested Bhatti, a pastor, after he was accused of sending text messages insulting the Prophet Muhammad's mother. Bhatti was reportedly tortured into confessing.
On May 3, 2017, Bhatti was sentenced to life in prison for "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC). Bhatti has reportedly been attacked while in prison.
On June 22, 2021, Bhatti's conviction was upheld by a sessions court judge in the Rawalpindi District.
In January 2022, the Rawalpindi Sessions Court reportedly sentenced Bhatti to death.
On October 3, 2025, Bhatti was acquitted and released from prison. On October 5, 2025, Bhatti reportedly passed away after a heart attack.
Publicly Available Information:
- USCIRF Annual Report 2023: Pakistan
- "Pakistan’s longest serving blasphemy convict has been given death sentence" British Asian Christian Association
- "Zafar Bhatti" Church In Chains
- The Voiceless Victims of Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws International Christian Concern (ICC)
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.
Publicly Available Information:
-
"Imran Ghafur Masih" Church In Chains
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"Court in Pakistan Acquits Christian Sentenced to Life in Prison for Blasphemy" International Christian Concern (ICC)
Oct 27, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USCIRF Troubled by Russia’s Ongoing Imprisonment of Jehovah’s Witness Dennis Christensen
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns the recent decision by the Lgov District Court to again deny the parole of Dennis Christensen, a Jehovah’s Witness prisoner of conscience imprisoned in Russia.
“USCIRF is appalled by Russia’s treatment of Dennis Christensen,” said USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin, who advocates for Dennis Christensen through the Commission’s Religious Prisoner of Conscience project. “There is clearly an official vendetta against this poor man, who is guilty only of peacefully practicing his faith. Instead of showing mercy, the state is treating him like a dangerous criminal. This is an egregious miscarriage of justice.”
Christensen was granted parole on June 23, but the decision was quickly challenged by a state prosecutor. Rather than being released, Christensen was instead placed in a poorly ventilated punishment cell for allegedly violating prison rules. He has been eligible for early release for a year, due to time served in pre-trial detention, and his health has noticeably deteriorated in custody. He has already contracted pneumonia once during his time in prison, and his pulmonary health remains a serious concern amid the continuing threat of COVID-19. Unless his parole is upheld, Christensen is scheduled to remain in prison until May 25, 2022.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses report that 10 of its members are currently imprisoned in Russia, while 40 are in pretrial detention, and 27 are under house arrest.
In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. government designate Russia as a “country of particular concern” for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].