8/22/2025 Pakistan (International Christian Concern) — Hundreds of prisoners in Pakistani jails and prisons have been incarcerated for violating blasphemy laws against the Islamic prophet Mohammad.
Those charged belong to minority religions, such as Hinduism and Christianity. According to Christian Daily International, these prisoners face cruel treatment and discrimination within the judicial system.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reported that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are second in severity only to Iran. The country’s penal code instructs that blasphemers be given a sentence of anywhere from 10 years to the death penalty.
Studies found that many of the charges of blasphemy are false. Once sentenced, they are placed in harsh living conditions. “Hope Behind Bars,” a study released on Aug. 15 by the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), stated that those found guilty of blasphemy are treated the worst in prison.
In one case, the state convicted 100 Christians of allegedly lynching two Muslims, looting, and vandalizing property in 2015. Detained inside a room previously used for tuberculosis patients, they were given Lotas, vessels used in toilets, to drink their water from.
The staff instructed them to clean their hands after using the bathroom by rubbing them on the cell walls. They also refused to give the Christians soap, blankets, and other necessities, which were provided to other inmates.
Often, blasphemy charges are decided without a court hearing. However, on June 25, 72-year-old Christian Ankwar Kenneth was acquitted after living 23 years on death row. Though he was a well-educated man who engaged in religious debates with his Muslim coworkers before his incarceration, his lawyer appealed to the court, declaring that Kenneth was of an unsound mind. The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered his release, ruling that a person diagnosed with mental instability could not be held responsible for a crime.
Unlike Kenneth, more than 700 Christians still await the death penalty, and many more remain in prison without knowing when they will be released. Though prisoners can receive remissions to their sentences by memorizing the Quran and observing Ramadan fasting, Christians continue to stand firm in their faith, choosing to endure cruel punishment instead of rejecting Christ.
Story by Bella Agnello
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