LAHORE, Pakistan — Three Pakistani Christians charged with blasphemy recently were granted release on bail.
Morning Star News reported the Supreme Court of Pakistan granted bail Aug. 24 to Patras Masih and Raja Waris who were charged in separate cases. Masih, now 22, had been incarcerated since February 2018.
On Aug. 23 the court also granted bail to Salamat Mansha Masih.
Voice Society’s Aneeqa Maria, an attorney, said the court determined Section 295-C (regarding disrespecting Islam’s prophet Muhammad) had been used to frame Patras Masih.
At the time of his alleged blasphemy, protests by Islamists erupted in the Shahdara Town portion of Lahore, causing hundreds of Christians to flee.
Waris, a lay pastor, was arrested in January 2021 and charged under two blasphemy statues.
Morning Star said Pakistan’s court has not executed anyone convicted of blasphemy, but people have framed and even killed individuals accused under blasphemy laws.
Pakistan is No. 8 on Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian. Nigeria leads the world in the number of Christians killed for their faith; Pakistan ranks second.
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