Release International

Two Christian prisoners are expected to walk free within days after spending more than three years behind bars on murder charges they had always denied.

Twenty-year-old Asif Masih and Safdar Masih, who is 22, were acquitted last month – they were first arrested for allegedly killing a man in their village in Kasur in 2006. Release partner Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan has been supporting the men and their families for the past three years.

Asif and Safdar were charged with murdering Ahmed Ali, who was attacked and tortured to death in fields outside the village. In fact, Asif and Safdar had rushed to Ahmed's help, hearing his cries – and had themselves been attacked. Ahmed's assailants later had Asif and Safdar arrested on suspicion of murder – allegedly with police collusion. It is not uncommon for Christians, who are treated as second-class citizens in Pakistan, to be falsely accused of crimes – and for some sectors of the police to be biased against them.

Meanwhile, in a separate bid to uphold Christians' basic human rights, Christian politicians are stepping up the pressure on the Government to repeal Pakistan's notorious blasphemy laws. These laws are frequently abused to persecute Christians.

The Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC) has set a deadline of September 15 for the Government to repeal the laws, warning of a 'movement against the Government' if no action is taken. The laws, against which Release has long campaigned, make blaspheming against Islam's prophet Mohammed or desecrating the Koran punishable by imprisonment or death.

The PCC's demand follows the arrest of 18-year-old Christian Safian Masih, who is from Gujranwala, Punjab – the latest Christian to be accused of blasphemy. After a petty row between Safian and a local girl, he was accused of raping her. Safian's accusers beat him and took him to the police. Two days later, they changed their story and accused Safian of blasphemy – of tearing pages out of the girl's Koran. He remains in police custody.

Safian's family insist he is innocent. They have been forced into hiding because they fear for their safety: extremists have called for Safian to be executed.

(Sources: Christian Today, International Christian Concern, Pakistan Christian Post, Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan)

• Ask God to keep Safian safe. Pray that charges against him will be dropped.
• Pray that the Government of Pakistan will now repeal the blasphemy laws.

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