by Raymond Ibrahim
"There was absolutely no case. There was no proof against Noman, and none of the witnesses produced by police could corroborate the blasphemy allegation against him.... This is murder of justice." — Lazar Allah Rakha, lawyer for Norman Masih, a 22-year-old Christian man, sentenced to death for "blasphemy", Morning Star News, May 31, 2023.
"Several people have been lynched over false accusations of blasphemy in Pakistan. At least 57 cases of alleged blasphemy were reported in Pakistan between Jan. 1 and May 10 2023, while four blasphemy suspects were lynched or extra-judicially killed during the same period..." — Morning Star News, May 22, 2023
"The blasphemy laws have been consistently misused to settle personal disputes, persecute minority groups, and incite mob violence and hatred. We demand prompt action and a collective effort by the government to address these human rights violations." — Retired Justice Nasira Javaid Iqbal, Morning Star News, May 22, 2023.
A Muslim policeman, hired to protect a Catholic school run by the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, instead attacked the school and murdered two young girls. — British Asian Christian Association, May 16, 2023.
"The incident [murder] has been officially blamed on the 'mental health' of the man, without investigating his possible relations with Muslim extremist groups." — bitterwinter.org, June 1, 2023.
"Why this horrific terrorist event occurred at the missionary school is due to a hatred of education for women, in radicalised Pakistan." — British Asian Christian Association, May 16, 2023.
In yet another incident... a Muslim family — with the aid of police — beat, tortured, and illegally confined a Christian house-cleaner, soon after she tried to resign due to pregnancy.... When her husband, rickshaw driver Gulfam Masih, went to police to report her missing, officers arrested him instead.
Asma the cleaner reported her illegal confinement and beating to police, but officers dismissed her complaint without even bothering to question her. Angered that she had the temerity to report them, the Muslim family registered a theft charge against Asma and her husband, which police did take very seriously. — Morning Star News, May 26, 2023.
"Many poor Christians are victimized through false allegations, including blasphemy, if they choose to discontinue working for their Muslim employers. The pattern is quite similar when you examine such cases.... The Muslim family used its influence to discharge Asma's complaint against her torture and then registered a false report against the couple to 'teach them a lesson.'" — Imran Sahotra, the Christian Awakening Movement, Morning Star News, May 26, 2023.
"Eventually the mob disappeared... shouting threats of death and the rape of Christian boys and girls if they continued to pursue the police...." — British Asian Christian Association, May 26, 2023.
"It must be terrifying... to have suffered such a brazen attack, knowing the next one is days away and the authorities meant to protect you have no desire to help...." — Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian Association, May 26, 2023.
"The mind-set of a whole nation must be changed—empowered Muslims must be taught to respect the minorities living amongst them." — Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian Association, May 26, 2023.
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Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West and Sword and Scimitar, is the Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum.
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