Release International

Release partners in Pakistan have requested urgent prayer for tomorrow's bail hearing of a Punjab Christian convicted of blasphemy.

Ruqqiya Bibi will appear before the High Court in Lahore – in the hope that she will be released on bail, pending an appeal against a 25-year jail sentence. She has already spent almost three years in custody.

Ruqqiya and her husband, Munir, were sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment under Section 295-B of Pakistan's blasphemy laws in March 2010. They were arrested by Mustafabad police in December 2008 for touching Islam's sacred scripture without ritually washing.

Release partner CLAAS (Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement) has been supporting the couple from Kasur for some time. CLAAS applied successfully for Munir to be released on bail last November, pending an appeal to the High Court in Lahore. CLAAS also arranged safe accommodation for Munir after his release on bail. Ruqqiya's application for bail on that occasion was turned down – but CLAAS hopes its legal team will have greater success this time.

A CLAAS spokesperson said: 'We need your prayers for the release, as well as for the safety of Ruqqiya and her family after her release from the prison. We do hope that she will be released and be allowed to celebrate Christmas with her family.'

For more news and a country profile about Pakistan, go to: Pakistan

NEWS UPDATE:
Egyptian Christians have welcomed a court ruling in favour of those seeking to have their religious registration on their ID cards officially changed back to 'Christian'. The recent ruling of the Supreme Administrative Court applies to anyone who was originally registered as 'Christian' but whose registration was later changed to 'Muslim' (whether voluntarily or not). More than 2,500 people were part of the application to the court. They included a Christian mother, Kamilia, for whom the ruling means the successful end to a long legal fight to change her twin sons' registration back to 'Christian'. Their registration had been changed to 'Muslim' by their father when their parents divorced. Twins Andrew and Mario have now been issued with new ID cards which state they are  'Christian'. The boys' incorrect registration as 'Muslims' had caused them difficulties at school: in 2008, they were held back a year after refusing to take an exam in Islamic studies. 

(Sources: Assist News Service, CLAAS, Middle East Concern)

• Pray that Ruqqiya Bibi will be granted bail in court tomorrow. Pray that both she and Munir will be acquitted on appeal soon. Ask God to protect them from extremist threats.
• Pray that Kamilia and her twins in Egypt – and the many other Christians in a similar position to them – will now live free from discrimination. Pray that next month's parliamentary elections in Egypt will pave the way for greater religious freedom.

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