Raja Waris
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:
- "PAKISTAN: Supreme Court frees three Christians on bail on blasphemy law charges" Church In Chains
- "Supreme Court bails out two more Christians accused of blasphemy" Kross Konnection
- The Voiceless Victims of Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws International Christian Concern (ICC)
- "Christian Lay Leader Arrested on Blasphemy Charges in Pakistan" Morning Star News
- "Pakistani Christians return home after threats of violence over Facebook post forced them to flee" The Christian Post
- "Hundreds of Pakistani Christian Families Flee Neighborhood Following Threats of Violence" International Christian Concern (ICC)