Pakistan: 2 Christians accused of blasphemy released
July 20, 2010
After determining that the accusations were false, police in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan have released two Christians accused of blasphemy against the prophet Mohammed. Rashid Emmanuel, a Protestant pastor, and his brother, Sajid Emmanuel, were arrested on July 4 and freed on July 19.
Following their arrest, Islamic militants threw stones at a Catholic parish in a suburb of Faisalabad, the nation’s third largest city. Fearful of a resumption of the anti-Christian violence of last summer, some Catholic families have left the area temporarily.
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Further information:
- Police release two Christians accused of blasphemy, but the Christian community still lives in fear (Fides)
- Pakistani bishop leads protest following 2nd Muslim attack, decries ‘religious cleansing’ (CWN, 8/4/09)
- Pakistan: Thousands of Muslims destroy Christian village (CWN, 7/31/09)
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