Additional Name(s): Ayan Shah

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Unspecified

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: Death

Date of Detainment: March//2017

Date of Sentencing: January/8/2021

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Hate Speech Terrorism

Rana Nouman Rafa­qat

Extra Bio Info:

Rana Nouman Rafa­qat is imprisoned and sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy. 

In March 2017, authorities arrested Rafa­qat after he was accused of uploading "blasphemous" content on the internet.

In January 2021, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad sentenced Rafaqat to death for “intending to outrage religious feelings” and “insulting the Prophet Muhammad” (Secs. 295-A, 295-C PPC), and terrorism defined as “inciting hatred and contempt on religious, sectarian or ethnic basis to stir up violence or cause internal disturbance” (Sec. 7(g) Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997).

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: February/13/2021

Date of Release: August/23/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Blasphemy (Religious Texts) Discussing Religion & Religious Texts

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Hate Speech

Salamat Mansha Masih

Extra Bio Info:

Salamat Mansha Masih was detained for blasphemy.

On February 13, 2021, authorities arrested Masih and charged him with "intending to outrage religious feelings" (Sec. 295-A PPC), "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B PPC), and "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC). Masih and his friend, Haroon Ayub, were reportedly having Bible study in a park when they gave other individuals in the park some of their religious literature.  Those individuals then accused the two of blasphemy.

On August 23, 2022, Masih was reportedly released from jail after the Supreme Court granted him bail.

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: December/28/2020

Date of Release: August//2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Other) Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Hate Speech

Raja Waris

Extra Bio Info:

Raja Waris was detained for alleged blasphemy.

In December 2020, authorities arrested Waris, a pastor, after he was accused of committing blasphemy on Facebook. They charged him with "intending to outrage religious feelings" (Sec. 295-A PPC) and "using derogatory remarks in respect of holy personages" (Sec. 298-A PPC). Prior to his arrest, a mob threatened to kill Waris and burn down his neighborhood in light of the accusation.

In August 2022, the Supreme Court released Waris on bail.

Publicly Available Information:
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