Pakistan: Christian minister, facing blasphemy charge, killed in prison cell
September 25, 2014
In Pakistan, a Christian minister who was charged with blasphemy against Islam has been murdered in prison, the AsiaNews service reports.
Rev. Zafar Bhatti was shot and killed in his prison cell. He had been in jail since 2012, when he was accused of blasphemy and imprisoned, although there was no evidence to support the charge. AsiaNews reports that he had been threatened by prison guards and fellow inmates.
Christians have been pressing for changes in Pakistan's draconian blasphemy law, which has frequently been abused to allow attacks on religious minorities. Human-rights advocates are now also demanding protection for prisoners who are accused of blasphemy.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: jg23753479 -
Sep. 25, 2014 8:22 PM ET USA
This will probably not be numbered as another example of Mohammedan violence -- there are literally hundreds around the globe every day -- but it should be. I am convinced that the actual count of these Muslim atrocities is far higher than the "official" count, horrific though it already is, allows.