‘Blasphemy’ suspect acquitted in Pakistan

SANGLA HILL, Pakistan — A Pakistani Christian was cleared of guilt by an anti-terrorism court Feb. 23 after being jailed since November 2005 for allegedly burning a Quran and triggering attacks against churches in the Punjabi town of Sangla Hill. The court in Lahore declared Yousaf Masih innocent on three accounts: committing blasphemy against the Quran, carrying out an act of terror and attempting to burn down a house. Masih’s accuser admitted that he had not actually seen the Christian throw a match into a Sangla Hill building used to store old copies of the Quran as he had claimed. The accusations, broadcast from mosque loudspeakers in November, triggered a mob of 2,000 Muslims to attack and destroy four Sangla Hill churches Nov. 12.