Pakistan (MNN) — In Pakistan, a Christian mechanic has been sentenced to death for blasphemy. A court in the city of Lahore handed down the ruling.
It started when a local Imam visited the motorbike repair shop. Nehemiah with FMI says, “Once he had done his job, this Imam refused to pay him. Because in Pakistan, Christians are being treated like dogs. I’m sorry to use this word. But literally, people use Christians like animals and dogs, like outcasted people. And he refused to pay him.”
“And he said, ‘You are living in our country. That is enough for you.’”
People from the local mosque beat the mechanic and framed him by saying he blasphemed against the Prophet Muhammed. In Pakistan, people can be accused of blasphemy and sentenced to death without any real evidence. This law often gets used against Christians for financial advantage and to get rid of them.
Nehemiah says, “When his family heard the news, they were in the tears, screaming and crying. Because they know there’s no way he can come out now.”
Targeting Christians
This isn’t happening to Christians in just a few isolated places. Lahore is the capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province and is the second largest city after Karachi. Nehemiah says, “This is just one news item we’re hearing about. There are multiple incidents like this happening in Pakistan, which are being unreported due to the control of the media by the government and military authority.”
Plus, Pakistan’s new government has a history of targeting Christians, Nehemiah says. “All the Christian colonies were burned down, and Christians were being targeted and killed. This happened during their tenure when they were in the power previously. And it’s happening again. Christian girls are being kidnapped and forcefully converted to Islam.”
Ask God to strengthen FMI partners in Pakistan.
The header photo shows the Christian mechanic in chains. (Photo courtesy of FMI)
