LAHORE, Pakistan — An 18-year-old Christian incarcerated for more than 17 months on three blasphemy charges has been granted bail in all the cases.
Akash Karamat previously was awarded bail Dec. 19 on one blasphemy charge because he was a juvenile at the time of the arrest. On Feb. 18, he was given an order of release on a second charge. The release order on the third charge was expected a week later, his attorney told media outlets Christian Daily International and Morning Star News.
Karamat was arrested in Pakistan’s Punjab province in July 2023 on accusations of violating blasphemy laws. He was also charged in two incidents in August 2023.
Karamat was accused of producing blasphemous posters and of desecrating the Quran.
Living in hiding
The maximum penalty for one of the charges against him was life imprisonment or death, report the news outlets.
His attorney says Karamat’s family has been living “in hiding due to the security risks in blasphemy cases.”
World Watch
Pakistan is No. 8 on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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