Pakistan: Christian computer science professor arrested for blasphemy
A computer science professor was arrested for blasphemy in Lahore, Pakistan, and has been charged with insulting the Muslim prophet Mohammad after evading the police for nearly three years.
Qaiser Ayub, 40, was targeted in 2011 for having “having written blasphemous comments on his blog” according to Fides.org.
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BosNewsLife added that Ayub, a Christian, is currently being held at a police station in the town of Talagang in Punjab’s Chakwal District.
Sardar Mushtaq Gill, national director of advocacy group Legal Evangelical Association Development, revealed that despite the threat of arrest, the professor had been teaching recently at a school in Lahore, which triggered the police warrant.
“We also request prayer for him,” Gill said, noting that his group will be providing legal assistance.
Similar to the Asia Bibi case, the persecution of Christians in Pakistan is rampant.
“We must stop sending billions of our taxpayer dollars to nations that persecute Christians. It’s that simple. Not one more dime for persecution. Cut off American foreign aid to any country that persecutes Christians,” states the petition against Pakistan, addressing Congress and President Obama.
“As a wave of persecution sweeps across the Middle East — and Christians flee for their lives — it’s time for the money to stop,” it adds. “Already there is growing support for basic human rights and basic common sense on Capitol Hill.”
Gill, meanwhile, led a protest last week in Punjab, demanding justice for the Christian couple who was killed and set on fire by a Muslim mob allegedly for desecrating the Quran, the Islamic holy book.
“The couple was burned at the kiln furnace based on a false accusation of blasphemy,” Gill said.
“The government must take immediate bold steps to repeal the blasphemy laws. The government has absolutely failed to protect its citizens’ right to life and property,” he added. “Christians in Pakistan are not safe as long as the current blasphemy laws exists. They are just misused to persecute them.”
NGO network Awaz-e-Haq Itehad reported last week that a total of 1,438 people were accused of blasphemy in Pakistan between 1987 and October 2014.
