Anwar Masih

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: June/2/2020

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

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

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy

Anwar Masih

Extra Bio Info:

Anwar Masih is detained for alleged blasphemy.

On June 2, 2020, authorities arrested Masih following a dispute with some Muslim family members. Authorities, who were called to mediate, accused Masih of blasphemy and charged him with "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C) against the family's wishes. Other Christian members of his family were forced into hiding following threats and intimidation.

Masih was previously charged with blasphemy in November 2003, but was acquitted in December 2004.

Publicly Available Information:

The Voiceless Victims of Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws International Christian Concern (ICC)
"A family at war: blasphemy and religious conversion" Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News)
"Pakistani Christian man accused of blasphemy by his wife and daughter" Pakistan Christian Post