Ishtiaq Saleem awaits a verdict in a blasphemy case that might carry the demise penalty. (Christian Every day Worldwide-Morning Star Information courtesy of household)
LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Every day Worldwide–Morning Star Information) – Pakistan’s blasphemy legal guidelines are going through renewed criticism as a Christian charged in a high-profile case awaits a verdict that might carry the demise penalty.
The case in opposition to Ishtiaq Saleem underscores rising issues about false blasphemy accusations by organized networks and the dangers to spiritual minorities, in response to ADF Worldwide, Christian authorized advocacy group is supporting the accused’s protection via allied attorneys in Pakistan.
“Blasphemy legal guidelines create a tradition of violence and discrimination and should be repealed,” mentioned Tehmina Arora, director of advocacy for Asia at ADF Worldwide, in a press assertion. “Ishtiaq should be freed, and Pakistan should transfer towards a tradition that respects and protects non secular freedom for all.”
Saleem, a 34-year-old Christian sanitation employee and father from Islamabad, was arrested in November 2022 after being accused of sharing allegedly blasphemous materials on social media, which he denies. His trial has concluded, however a verdict is pending as proceedings proceed in opposition to a Muslim accused in the identical case, Muhammad Umair.
Officers from the Federal Investigation Company’s (FIA) cybercrime unit arrested Saleem after allegedly blasphemous pictures of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad appeared in a social media group on his cellphone. Authorities registered a case underneath a number of provisions of Pakistan’s penal code, together with Part 295-C, which carries a compulsory demise penalty for insulting Muhammad.
Saleem and his household keep that he neither created nor shared the content material. His father, Saleem Masih, mentioned in a earlier interview that his son was unaware of the photographs, which he believes have been posted by one other member of a social media group and routinely downloaded to his system.
“My son is a wise man and has by no means indulged in such acts,” Masih informed Morning Star Information in 2023. “He didn’t even know the photographs have been there till his arrest.”
Regardless of repeated bail functions, Saleem stays in custody. Decrease courts in addition to the Supreme Court docket have rejected his petitions, although the apex court docket directed the trial court docket to expedite proceedings. The case is now earlier than a particular court docket in Islamabad.
In its assertion, ADF Worldwide additionally raised issues in regards to the integrity of the prosecution, pointing to alleged hyperlinks between the lead prosecutor and a “blasphemy enterprise group,” a community accused of fabricating allegations to entrap people for blackmail and extortion.
A report by Pakistan’s Nationwide Fee on Human Rights has documented greater than 450 instances believed to be linked to such schemes, contributing to an increase in blasphemy accusations in recent times, the group famous.
“Organized teams that exploit blasphemy accusations to focus on harmless individuals undermine the rule of legislation and put Christians and different weak communities at grave threat,” Arora mentioned, urging the worldwide group to watch such instances and push for accountability.
ADF Worldwide and its authorized companions mentioned they continue to be hopeful that weaknesses within the prosecution’s case will end in Saleem’s acquittal, permitting him to return to his household.
Pakistan’s blasphemy legal guidelines have lengthy been criticized by human rights organizations for his or her broad scope and vulnerability to abuse. Allegations primarily based on unverified claims or private disputes have triggered mob violence and, in some instances, killings earlier than courts might attain a verdict.
A rights watchdog recorded 344 new blasphemy instances in Pakistan in 2024, reflecting an escalating misuse of the legal guidelines. In accordance with the annual report by the Heart for Social Justice, about 70 p.c of the accused have been Muslims, 6 p.c Christians, 9 p.c Hindus and 14 p.c Ahmadis.
“The blatant weaponization of blasphemy legal guidelines continued to allow persecution, non secular intolerance and widespread human rights violations,” the report said.
The identical report documented a minimum of 2,793 individuals accused of blasphemy between 1987 and 2024, with a minimum of 104 killed extrajudicially following such allegations between 1994 and 2024.
In a June 2025 report titled, “A Conspiracy to Seize the Land: Exploiting Pakistan’s Blasphemy Legal guidelines for Blackmail and Revenue,” Human Rights Watch (HRW) mentioned the legal guidelines are incessantly used to focus on non secular minorities, settle private grievances, and, in some instances, seize property.
The report warned that blasphemy accusations can incite mob violence, displace weak communities and foster a local weather of concern, significantly amongst minority teams.
Though courts have often acquitted defendants or granted bail the place proof is discovered missing, such outcomes stay comparatively uncommon given the extremely delicate nature of blasphemy allegations in Pakistan.
Worldwide advocacy teams proceed to rank Pakistan among the many international locations the place non secular minorities face important challenges. In its 2026 World Watch Listing, Open Doorways ranked Pakistan eighth among the many 50 international locations the place it’s most tough to be a Christian.
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