LAHORE, Pakistan — Police saved a Christian mother from a mob ready to lynch her, but then they succumbed to mob pressure and charged her with blasphemy.
On Aug. 7, police rescued Saima Masih, 32, from a Muslim mob seeking to kill her in Kathore village of Pakistan’s Punjab province, report media outlets Christian Daily International and Morning Star News.
She had been accused of desecrating pages of the Quran, said attorney Akmal Bhatti of Minorities Alliance Pakistan.
Neighbors with a vendetta
The accusation against Saima came from Muslim neighbors with a vendetta, Bhatti said. As news spread of the blasphemy accusation, nearly 300 Muslims gathered on the main highway and blocked passage.
Bhatti told the news outlets that sources also indicated some Muslims had beaten Christians. This caused fear of unrest in the community, and some Christians fled for their lives.
Pressured by the mob, police charged Saima under Section 295-B of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Such a charge could result in a life sentence, Bhatti said.
Pakistan is No. 7 on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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