Younis Masih is free! Praise God!

LAHORE: Many people present cheered after the announcement that Pakistani Christian Younis Masih was to be released on appeal by Lahore High Court Lahore.He was sentenced to death by a judge in Lahore on May 30, 2007. The appeal was filed and his case was re-opened in September 2012.

Younis Masih, who has languished in jail since his arrest - 10th September,2005, was declared innocent by Lahore High Court by Justice Khaja Amtiaz Ahmed and Justice Khalid Mehmood Khan on 10th November 2013.

Masih had  suffered a heart attack on 8 January ,2013 and is still heart patient.

Today,28 November,2013,Masih came to see Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill,National Director LEAD and described the days which he spent after his release from jail.

"I was very welcomed by many people after my release.  They have kept me with them for two weeks and took photos.  They ahve now discarded me and thrown me away, like tissue paper into a  dustbin",shared Masih.

"I have four Children and I have no job,and no one is supporting me.I am living in fear of attacks and do not know when someone will kill me,"said Masih.

"He is living with us and we are also under serious risk, we have received many threatening letters including one from the owner of our house,"told Babu brother of Masih.

"I have heard that Rimsha Masih had been relocated to Canada, yet no one is cares about my life.I am not able to work among Muslims and I always remain in disguise.  I do not tell any one that I am Younis Masih. So I have lost my identity too",said Masih.

Living in a land of 97% Muslims Christians in Pakistan have a constant fear of persecution.  This takes a number of guises such as threats,attacks, discrimination and hatred.  One intimidation that hovers on them all the time is the blasphemy laws.The lives of those accused of a blasphemy are subject to incarceration, looming death sentences and complete pariah status.

Asia Bibi,the Christian mother of 5, convicted under the law of blasphemy in 2010,remains on death row in Pakistan and  a cleric in Peshawar had offered a reward of 5,000 euro to anyone who kills the mother of five.
For now, the uphill struggle continues,the Pakistani court has yet to take up her appeal against the blasphemy conviction and death sentence.

“We are hoping for the best for Asia Bibi. However, her life will be in danger anyways, as soldiers will try to kill her if she is freed”,said Gill."We also have the examples of two brothers, Rashid Emmanuel and Sajid Masih Emmanuel, both Christians accused of blasphemy, killed in cold-blood in front of the Court of Faisalabad, during their hearings, in July 2010."

According to  sources , Asia Bibi will face threats in Multan Jail or will be forced to convert to Islam under pressure as one Christian who visited her in Sheikhupura jail in 2011; he found Islamic books in her cell about which she told the visitor that jail authorities are teaching her to read.

In the year of  2011,two high profile political figures were assassinated Mr.Salman Taseer  by his bodyguard for voicing his opinion on blasphemy law and supporting Asia Bibi and Mr.Shahbaz Bhatti, federal minister for minority affairs by some unknown persons after getting many threats of killing.


We appeal to our brothers and sisters to pray for Younis Masih 's safety and his safe relocation.We appeal to pray for all who are suffering in different Pakistani jails under allegation of blasphemy laws.Pray for their counsels that they will honestly represent these accused without taking wrong directions from the persons who have their own vested interests.Pray God will give them wisdom and courage to plead and well argue their cases in courts.