Two Christian men who had been wrongfully imprisoned on blasphemy charges were acquitted in recent weeks. A third Christian died in prison while awaiting trial. He, too, had been falsely accused of blasphemy.
Unreliable testimonies
In early July, a court in Lahore ordered the release of Dennis Albert. He had been arrested in April 2024 on blasphemy charges. He was accused of “outraging religious feelings” and “desecrating the Qur’an” after a witness claimed that he had stepped on several loose pages from the Qur’an while getting out of a rickshaw.
“We are grateful that the judges ruled in favor of the accused.”
However, the judge ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove Albert’s guilt, citing “unreliable witness testimony, missing evidence, and unverified digital evidence,” according to the Pakistan-based newspaper Dawn. The judge acknowledged that the court was fully aware of the sanctity of the Qur’an, but emphasized that the seriousness of the allegation required a “high standard of legal proof.” The judge stated that if there is reasonable doubt based on even a single aspect of the prosecution’s case, the accused is entitled to an acquittal. He also referred to previous rulings, including the case of Asia Bibi.
Fabricated charges
A 51-year-old Catholic man was also released in Lahore at the end of June after being acquitted of blasphemy charges. Nadeem Masih had been accused in August 2025 of insulting the Prophet Muhammad following a dispute with several other people. The incident took place in a park where Masih was offering people the opportunity to weigh themselves for a small fee using his scales. His lawyer, Lazar Allah Rakha, welcomed the verdict, maintaining that the case against his client had been fabricated and was motivated by personal grievances.
An advocacy spokesperson for Open Doors responded: “We are grateful that the judges ruled in favor of the accused. Being accused of blasphemy is an extremely serious allegation in Pakistan and has a profound impact on the lives of those accused and their families.” “Our recommendation is that a thorough investigation by experienced individuals should take place before an official complaint is filed. In addition, it is crucial that those who make false accusations of blasphemy themselves face legal prosecution.”
“Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan. It often leads to violence against alleged offenders, even when they are acquitted by the courts.”
Lack of medical care
A third Christian died in prison earlier this month. Amir Peter was falsely accused of blasphemy after local shopkeepers filed a complaint with the police in July 2025. Amir suffered from diabetes, but did not receive the necessary medical care in prison and died from complications.
Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan. It often leads to violence against alleged offenders, even when they are acquitted by the courts. Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are often used to escalate unrelated personal disputes involving Christians. These disputes may involve issues such as land conflicts, a Christian shopkeeper being viewed as a competitor, or a Christian employee being regarded as inferior and unclean.
Pakistan ranks eighth on the World Watch List.
