PAKISTAN CHRISTIAN STILL HIDING FROM MILITANTS WHO WANT TO KILL HIM - DESPITE BEING CLEARED OF BLASPHEMY CHARGES… AND THE 16-YEAR-OLD FUGITIVE IN FEAR OF HIS LIFE AFTER A SCHOOLBOY SQUABBLE - VICTIMS OF BLASPHEMY CHARGES
Oct 02 2007
Postings >> Pakistan

A Pakistan Christian who was acquitted of blasphemy is still in hiding almost a year after charges were dropped - because Muslim militants are trying to kill him. And a 16-year-old boy is now a fugitive in fear of his life – after a squabble with another schoolboy led to accusations of blasphemy.

Both cases highlight the reason Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws must be repealed.

Schoolboy Rashid Masih told Release International:

‘They can shoot me or burn me, they can kill me if they know that I am hiding here.’
 
While hospital worker Ranjah Masih (not related) said:

‘I cannot go out of this room because my life is in danger. The Muslims know about my case. They want to kill me.’

Hospital worker Ranjah Masih was jailed for life under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws simply for knocking over a sign – an offence which would be considered too trivial to bring to court in most countries.

But the sign belonged to a Muslim shopkeeper. And on it was written a verse of the Koran – hence the blasphemy charge.

Ranjah, who has always denied the offence,  tells his story in the October edition of World Update on the Persecuted Church, a ten-minute news programme available for download from www.releaseinternational.org

Despite his innocence, Ranjah was jailed for life, blindfolded and beaten daily with clubs and sticks until his health was all but broken.

He had to bribe the police to give him medicine, and says they beat him to try force him to reveal the names of other Christians.

Many times the police told him that if he converted to Islam they would set him free. But Ranjah refused.

One day a prison officer brought him a Koran and said that if he just recited an Islamic prayer he could go. Ranjah replied:

'If release from prison means forsaking Jesus Christ, then I don't want to be released.'

Meanwhile his wife had to bring up their six children on her meagre earnings as a domestic servant. She was supported by Release International's partners, CLAAS – the Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement - which helps many persecuted Christians in Pakistan.

After eight-and-a-half years behind bars the authorities finally acknowledged that Ranjah had been innocent all along and set him free.

But that freedom has a hollow ring. Almost a year later, he remains separated from his family and in hiding from militants who have sworn to kill him.

Release International's CEO Andy Dipper flew to Pakistan to encourage Christians in fear of their lives following blasphemy allegations. Ranjah Masih told him:

‘It is difficult to kill the time here, to live in a small room. It is my desire that I go back to my family and that I will live with them. I am praying to the Lord to let me live again with my family and my five sons.’

Ranjah thanked Christians in the UK who have been praying for him for years.

‘Your prayers have brought a lot of people to help me get my release and they are still caring for me. But I still need your prayers because my life is still in danger, so please do remember me.’

Release International’s Andy Dipper also met a 16-year-old boy who has been turned into a fugitive and whose life is now at risk – simply for tearing up a sticker.

For 16-year-old Rashid Masih it all started with a schoolboy squabble. Rashid’s was one of the few Christian families living in a predominantly Muslim town.  He says some Muslims boys were beating up his younger brother so he stepped in to stop them. Other Muslim youths celebrating their prophet’s birthday nearby piled in.

During the quarrel they accused Rashid of snatching a sticker from another boy and ripping it up. In other circumstances and other places it might have been considered trivial - but this was a religious sticker about the prophet Mohammed.

The schoolboy spat ended with Christians fleeing for their lives and Rashid, his father and three others being accused of blasphemy. 

Rashid's father and cousin are still in jail. Rashid is now a fugitive hiding in a safe house. He told Release International that he was afraid if the police came for him, they might kill him.

‘They can shoot me or burn me, they can kill me if they know that I am hiding here.’

Muslims who change their faith in Pakistan are also at risk. The government is currently reviewing a proposal to impose the death penalty on Muslim men who become Christians and jail for life women who change their religion.

‘James’ – not his real name – was shot 11 times for changing his faith from Islam to Christianity. He was so badly wounded his left arm had to be amputated.

He told Release International’s partners, The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada:

‘The doctor was surprised I had survived. Because I only had one and a half pints of blood left. I told him, God’s power within me gives me life. God is providing me with a new arm. I am very thankful. I will work for the kingdom of God.’

‘Stories like these are all too common in Pakistan,’ says Andy Dipper. ‘With support from Release International, Christians in Pakistan have been campaigning to repeal the notorious blasphemy laws which can destroy the lives of even the innocent. Please pray for Ranjah, Rashid and James.’

All three appear on the latest edition of the award-winning news programme World Update on the Persecuted Church, on www.releaseinternational.org

Through its international network of missions Release International serves persecuted Christians in 30 countries, supporting pastors and Christian prisoners and their families, supplying Christian literature and Bibles, and working for justice. RI is a member of the UK organisations Global Connections, the Evangelical Alliance and the Micah Network.

ENDS

NOTES TO THE EDITOR

Rashid and Ranjah Masih are unrelated. Masih, which means ‘Messiah’ is a common surname among Pakistan Christians.

Screenshots of Ranjah, Rashid and James are available from the webcast, which can be downloaded from www.releaseinternational.org

For further information, please contact Andrew Boyd on 01730 301905 or 07986 712 813, or contact Release International on 01689 823491 or by email at info@releaseinternational.org