Prayer Request: Pakistan: Blasphemy cases converge on court in Lahore

Lahore High Court - Pakistan

Mar 06 2013

Release partners in Pakistan are calling for urgent prayer as a series of blasphemy cases are due to be heard in court in Lahore today.

Asia Bibi, the first Christian woman to be sentenced to death for blasphemy, is appealing her case at Lahore High Court. Final arguments in the Martha Bibi case are also due to be presented. Martha, who has six children, was accused of blasphemy in 2007 after an argument with local builders.

A decision is still awaited in the case of Younis Masih, who was arrested eight years ago after complaining about the level of noise at an Islamic ceremony. At his last High Court hearing on February 27 demonstrators called for everyone found guilty of blasphemy to be put to death. Release partners say the intention was to pressure the judges to find him guilty. Younis, who has four children, recently suffered a heart attack.

Lahore High Court will also decide today whether to grant bail to Ghazala Khan, who has also been accused of blasphemy.
(Source: Release partners)

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• Please pray for all the Christians who are due to appear in court. Pray that God will give courage to the judges to speak boldly and act justly. Pray for protection for the accused as they attend the court hearings, and for safety for their legal representatives.

Asia Bibi

Younis Masih