Additional Name(s): Navish Arooj

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: April/9/2021

Date of Release: September/23/2021

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

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

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy

Newsh Arooj

Extra Bio Info:

Newsh Arooj was detained for blasphemy.

On April 9, 2021, authorities arrested Arooj, who is a nurse, and her coworker, Mariyum Lal, after an incident at their workplace. According to reporting, the two were accused of "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B PPC) after removing decorations and stickers from a wall inside Civil Hospital in Faisalabad, Punjab. Police reportedly detained the two after a mob gathered around the hospital demanding their punishment.

In late April 2021, four UK parliamentarians called for the dropping of charges against Arooj. 

On September 23, 2021, Arooj was released on bail.

Arooj is reportedly engaged.

Related Cases: Mariyum Lal

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Mariam Lal

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: April/9/2021

Date of Release: September/23/2021

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

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

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy

Mariyum Lal

Extra Bio Info:

Mariyum Lal was detained for blasphemy.

On April 9, 2021, authorities arrested Lal, who is a nurse, and her coworker, Newsh Arooj, after an incident at their workplace. According to reporting, the two were accused of "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B PPC) after removing decorations and stickers from a wall inside Civil Hospital in Faisalabad, Punjab. Lal was allegedly assaulted by a coworker during the incident. Police reportedly detained the two nurses after a mob gathered around the hospital demanding their punishment.

In late April 2021, four UK parliamentarians called for the dropping of charges against Lal. 

On September 23, 2021, Lal was released on bail.

Lal is reportedly a single mother with a teenage daughter. 

Related Cases: Newsh Arooj

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Male

Current Location: Central Jail Sahiwal

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Acquitted

Sentence: Death on Appeal; Originally Life Imprisonment

Date of Sentencing: July//2013

Date of Release: November/13/2021

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

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

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy

Sajjad Masih Gill

Extra Bio Info:

Sajjad Masih Gill was imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy.

On an unspecified date, authorities arrested Gill, a member of the Seventh-day Adventist community, after he was accused of sending a text message that disparaged the Prophet Muhammad in late 2011.

In July 2013, the court of Gojra, Punjab, sentenced Gill to life in prison for "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC).

Following his sentencing, members of Gill's family and attorneys have faced threats and violence.  In 2015, his brother and nephew reported being attacked after visiting Gill in prison.  In 2016, two lawyers reported receiving threats by armed men.  

In March 2021, the Lahore High Court accepted a petition submitted by prosecutors to resentence Gill to death.

On October 26, 2021, a two-judge division bench of the Lahore High Court acquitted Gill reportedly due to insufficient evidence. 

On November 13, 2021, Gill was released.

Publicly Available Information:
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