Gender: Male

Current Location: Central Jail, Hyderabad

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Health Concerns: Mental disability

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: Life Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: June/4/2015

Date of Sentencing: September/28/2018

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

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

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy

Yaqoob Bashir Masih

Extra Bio Info:

Yaqoob Bashir Masih is imprisoned for alleged blasphemy.

In June 2015, authorities arrested Masih after he was accused of burning a booklet containing Qur'an text and was harmed by a mob. Authorities charged him with "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B PPC) and "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC).

In September 2018, the Session and District Court of Mirpurkhas sentenced Masih to life in prison.

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Health Concerns: Mental disability, substance abuse

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: May/24/2015

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

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

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy

Humayun Faisal

Extra Bio Info:

Humayun Faisal was detained for blasphemy.

On May 24, 2015, authorities arrested Faisal after he was accused of burning newspapers containing Qur'anic texts on them. Faisal was reportedly attacked before being arrested. He is reportedly charged with "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B PPC). Reports indicate that protests and riots broke out following the incident, which resulted in a church being vandalized and several Christian homes being damaged.

On March 30, 2023, it was reported that Faisal was released after being acquitted.

Faisal is reportedly mentally disabled and has a history of substance abuse. 

Publicly Available Information:

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: Released

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:
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