ACLJ Wins Freedom for Five Christians Accused of Blasphemy

With so much big news competing for our attention, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. But real impact isn’t always found in headlines – it’s found in the small, faithful efforts we make every day for freedom. And when one of those efforts wins freedom for a brother or sister persecuted for their faith, it’s never small. It’s a victory worth celebrating.

Today we celebrate such a victory. In September 2024, our client, Zubaeem Masih (“Masih” is a common Christian surname meaning “Messiah”), a young Christian in Pakistan, just 17 years old, and four friends were sharing their faith in a public place. For that, they were falsely accused of insulting Islam.

A Muslim bystander called the police, claiming that one of the five – a young girl – said that fasting, prayer, and pilgrimage to Mecca cannot save anyone, but only Christ, the Son of God, can forgive sin and grant eternal life. The bystander further claimed the four boys with her agreed with her message, and that by preaching Christianity, they had insulted Islam and hurt Muslim feelings.

Police arrested all five and charged them under Section 298 of the Pakistan Penal Code – part of the country’s blasphemy laws. Other sections in that same chapter allow for the death penalty for insulting the Prophet Muhammad, or life imprisonment for desecrating a Quran. Section 298 itself carries up to three years in prison for words that wound the religious feelings of another.

Thankfully, Zubaeem and his friends were granted bail within days. Zubaeem then reached out to our international affiliate, the Organization for Legal Aid (OLA), and asked for legal representation. Our team has stood with him ever since – attending hearing after hearing as the case dragged through continuance after continuance.

Then came a break: The court assigned a new judge to the case. At the September 15 hearing, our attorneys laid out the facts for Judge Muhammad Nasarullah – Zubaeem and his friends were doing nothing but peacefully sharing their faith and singing worship songs, activities fully protected under Pakistani law.

Though not always honored, the Constitution of Pakistan provides freedom of religion to all citizens (Article 20, Constitution of Pakistan). Zubaeem and his friends had no intent to insult Islamic teachings. Nor did their expression of Christian faith constitute an insult to anyone or any religion.

Judge Nasarullah agreed with our attorneys and acquitted all five Christians of all charges.

While this is a great victory, we continue working to free Shahzad Masih, the Ayub brothers, and Ahsan Masih, all of whom are on death row, and Intizar Masih, still awaiting trial. All face the same false allegations of blasphemy that once threatened Zubaeem’s freedom.

As we continue fighting for them, we ask you to keep them in your prayers. Join us as we continue advocating for them. Sign our petition.