Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Pakistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: Death
Date of Detainment: March/22/2017
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
Nasir Ahmad
Extra Bio Info:
Nasir Ahmad is imprisoned and sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy.
In March 2017, authorities arrested Ahmad after he was accused of uploading videos on YouTube deemed to be blasphemous.
In January 2021, judicial authorities in Islamabad sentenced Ahmad to death for blasphemy.
Publicly Available Information:
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:
- "ATC hands death penalty to Nasir Sultani, 2 others in blasphemy case" Bol
- "In a first, three get death for 'cyberspace blasphemy'" Dawn
- USCIRF Policy Update: Pakistan's Blasphemy Law October 2019
- "Dangerous situation for Freethinkers and Humanists in Pakistan" International Humanist and Ethical Union
- "Pakistan is harassing and persecuting the non-religious under the guise of 'blasphemy'" Humanists International
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:
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"PAKISTAN: Supreme Court frees three Christians on bail on blasphemy law charges" Church In Chains
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"SC gives bail to Christian sanitary worker in blasphemy case" Kross Konnection
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The Voiceless Victims of Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws International Christian Concern (ICC)
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"Two Christians Studying Bible in Park Charged with Blasphemy" Morning Star News