PUNJAB PROVINCE, Pakistan — Despite being acquitted on a false charge of blasphemy, a Christian widow lost her job and has received death threats.
Musarrat Bibi was acquitted Dec. 8, 2023, of a blasphemy charge under Section 295-B, which requires a life sentence, reports Christian Daily International and Morning Star News. Bibi and gardener Muhammad Sarmad, a Muslim, were charged April 15, 2023, for allegedly desecrating pages of the Quran. While cleaning a storeroom that day at Government Girls Higher Secondary School in 66-EB village in Punjab province, the two built a fire to burn what they thought was scrap paper.
A Muslim teacher complained, claiming the burnt pages were from the Quran.
Bibi was released on bail on May 12.
‘Not intentional’
Lazar Allah Rakha, Bibi’s attorney, said the judge presiding Dec. 8 noted that the “school council had also admitted that the alleged act was not intentional.”
As of Jan. 12, Bibi had not been restored to her school job. In addition, she and her daughter left their village because of death threats, Bibi told the news service.
“We are on the run, constantly changing our locations to avoid being traced,” Bibi said.
Pakistan is No. 7 on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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