Release International

Shahbaz Masih has been freed from jail after serving five of the 25 years he had been given for blasphemy -- as two other Christians are arrested on the same charge.

Shahbaz, 28, was acquitted after a High Court judge in Lahore ruled he was 'mentally unstable'. His original trial had convicted him of tearing up a Koran in a Muslim graveyard in Faisalabad, but the appeal judge noted there had been no witnesses.

Shahbaz is now in hiding, for fear of extremist reprisals over his acquittal, and has yet to be reunited with his family in Lahore. RI partners have been supporting the family during Shahbaz's imprisonment.

Meanwhile, another two Christians have had their world blown apart by accusations of blasphemy. In Faisalabad, Shahid Masih, 17, has gone into hiding after being granted bail amid accusations he too had defiled the Koran. As 7x7 has reported, the teenager was accused of blasphemy after allegedly being involved in a theft.

While his family and supporters are pleased Shahid is out on bail -- an unusual step for a lower court to take -- they fear for his life. He too is in hiding.

And in a small village in Kasur district, a woman called Martha Bibi has been arrested on suspicion of blasphemy. RI sources say the accusations came after Martha asked a group of Muslims building a mosque to return building materials loaned from her shop. Martha was taken into custody after a mob surrounded her home, demanding revenge for derogatory comments she is alleged to have made about the Prophet Mohammed. RI partners have visited Martha's family (who are in hiding) to pray for and encourage them.

• Pray that almighty God will 'maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed' (Psalm 82) and bless Shahid and Martha with good lawyers. RI partners are involved in both cases.
• Praise God for the release of Shahbaz Masih, after five years in jail for blasphemy.
• Pray that he and his family will find a safe home.

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