ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The death sentence for two Christians accused of “blasphemy” was upheld and, in a separate case, Pakistani police refused to rescue an abducted Christian girl.
The 16-year-old was kidnapped April 5 by a male Muslim co-worker. According to human rights group International Christian Concern (ICC), the girl’s father was allowed to file a complaint with the district and session court only after the organization Human Rights Focus Pakistan became involved. The co-worker has not been arrested.
Kidnapping and forcing Christian girls to convert to Islam and marry Muslim men is becoming more frequent in Pakistan, ICC reported.
Elsewhere, two Christian brothers charged with blasphemy for a website’s content saw their death sentences upheld June 8 in Lahore’s High Court. They were imprisoned in 2011 and convicted in 2018.
ICC reported no evidence shows the brothers created the website, and an appeal is expected.
Pakistan is No. 8 on Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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