Muslim vigilante groups are working with federal authorities to lure young people into sharing blasphemous content on social media in order to put them behind bars, according to an investigation by Pakistan’s National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR).
A Christian falsely charged with blasphemy in three cases was released on bail this week after prosecutors failed to produce evidence against him, his attorney said.
A Christian jailed since June on blasphemy and terrorism charges in Pakistan was released on bail on Oct. 23 after a high court noted glaring loopholes in the police case against him, his attorney said.
Authorities in Pakistan have failed to curb a range of human rights violations, including a sharp increase in blasphemy-related violence, the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) noted last week.
A court in Pakistan on Friday (Oct. 25) returned custody of a 16-year-old Christian girl to her parents after a Muslim had kidnapped and forcibly converted/married her, sources said.
A coalition of 17 international human rights organizations is demanding Pakistan be suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations due its blasphemy laws and other rights violations, but local activists said that could result in more hardship for religious minorities.
A trial court in Pakistan has granted rare bail to a Christian arrested on blasphemy charges, her attorney said.
Fulani herdsmen killed two Christians in central Nigeria’s Benue state on Wednesday (Oct. 9) and two others in another part of the state on Oct. 3, local sources said.
Fulani herdsmen on Tuesday (Oct. 1), attacked a predominantly Christian village in central Nigeria, killing seven people, area residents said.
Fulani herdsmen on Sunday (Sept. 29) ambushed and killed two Christians in Kaduna state, Nigeria, area residents said.
Muslim employers of a 17-year-old Christian who works at their gas company in Pakistan have forcibly converted him to Islam and are holding him in illegal custody, his mother said.
Fulani herdsmen killed a Christian on Thursday (Sept. 26) in one area of Plateau state after the killing of eight others on Sept. 15 in another part of the state, sources said.
