Religious Prisoner Profile: Ayub Masih (Pakistan)

Ayub Masih has been released!

Ayub Masih, 30, was arrested on October 16, 1996 and imprisoned in Sahiwal Central jail. He was charged with blasphemy against the prophet Mohammed, yet local sources claim that these are concocted accusations due to a land dispute from local individuals who wanted Masih’s family’s land. In November of 1997, an attempt was made on Masih’s life while he waited outside a Pakistani courthouse for a hearing on his blasphemy charges. On April 27, 1998, Mr. Masih was sentenced to death. He had 30 days to appeal this sentence. Furthermore, Bishop John Joseph reportedly committed suicide on May 6, 1998 to protest the blasphemy law and the death sentence against Mr. Masih.

Unfortunately, Ayub Masih’s remains in prison. He has suffered from illnesses, death threats, and beatings from fellow prisoners. In Pakistan, the blasphemy law falls under Section 295c of the Pakistani Penal Code. Section 295c mandates the death sentence for blasphemy. Unfortunately, unscrupulous individuals level blasphemy charges as a method of solving land and business disputes. Religious and ethnic minorities bear the brunt of the false accusations. Although the Pakistani government has not put anyone to death under this law, once accusations of blasphemy are made against an individual, the local community often takes matters into its own hands and kills the accused person.

On February 13, 2001, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered that a full hearing be held on the charges against Masih due to “apparent legal irregularities” in his sentence of death, upheld by the Multan High Court. The full hearing is supposed to occur within two to three months of the Supreme Court’s order.

To help Mr. Masih, please write letters to Pakistani government officials listed here using the text below as a model.  

Key Pakistani government officials

Chief Executive:

His Excellency Pervez Musharraf
President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Islamabad
Pakistan

Dear Mr. President:

Ambassador:

Her Excellency
Dr. Maleeha Lodhi
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
2315 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008

Dear Madam Ambassador:

Sample Letter

I write today as a friend of the Pakistani people and as an American citizen wishing to express my deep concern about the case of Mr. Ayub Masih.  Recent reports suggest that he is facing trial on charges of blasphemy under Section 295c of the Pakistani penal code.  I am very concerned about his safety, as well as that of other Christians in Pakistan.

Mr. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammed Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, recognized the right to freedom of religion in his presidential address in 1947 when he stated, "[you] may belong to any religion or cast or creed.  That has nothing to do with the business of the state ... We are starting with the fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one state ... you are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan."  Unfortunately, minority religious believers, particularly Christians, have been the victims of less tolerant treatment than that expressed in this presidential statement.  In addition, the rights this statement supports have been eroded over the years due to legal changes within Pakistan.

In the case of this man facing blasphemy charges, it appears that business rivalries or other personal disputes were the major reason for the charges.  I respectfully request that the government of Pakistan investigate this case and release Mr. Masih from prison.

Mr. President, I commend you for your recent move to eliminate separate electorates and thereby help eliminate discrimination and disenfranchisement of ethnic and religious minorities

Thank you for your attention to pursuing the dismissal of this blasphemy case.

Sincerely,

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