A Pakistani pastor living in the United States has been accused of blasphemy, which caused as many as 40 Christian families in his native village to flee July 3 in fear of mob violence.
“Pastor Sajeel Robin, who settled in the U.S. a couple of years ago, frequently posts videos featuring religious debates with Muslims and discussion on Islam,” Joseph Nayyar, a human rights advocate in Pakistan’s Punjab province, told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.
Check out more stories on the persecuted church.
The pastor’s brother and uncle reportedly shared Robin’s postings on social media, Nayyar added. “After local clerics became aware of the content, they began making announcements from mosque loudspeakers calling on people to act against what they described as ‘blasphemous content.'”
Because of this, police went to Robin’s native village of Jhulan and urged Christians to leave as a precaution, Nayyar said.
Robin’s uncle and father initially were placed in protective custody. After they apologized and vowed to distance themselves from Robin, Muslim leaders gave the two a “pardon,” Nayyar stated. Also, police may have agreed to arrest the pastor’s brother, who went into hiding to avoid capture.
World Watch
Following this agreement, the Christian families returned home July 4, Nayyar told Christian Daily-Morning Star.
Pakistan is No. 8 on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List of the 50 places most difficult to be a Christian.
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