LAHORE, Pakistan — Two Christians face blasphemy charges for studying the Bible in a park on Feb. 13.
Haroon Ayub Masih and Salamat Mansha Masih were studying the Bible in Lahore’s Model Town Park, when a group of Muslims told them not to do so in public. The group summoned park security, claiming the Christians were evangelizing Muslims and blaspheming Muhammad.
Lahore police charged the men with blaspheming Muhammad (punishable by death) and defiling the Koran (punishable by life imprisonment), among other charges.
False accusations of blasphemy are common in Pakistan. On Jan. 29, hospital staff members in Karachi slapped, beat and locked Christian nurse Tabeeta Nazir Gill into a room over an allegation of blaspheming Islam. Police charged her but released her upon learning a co-worker with a vendetta made the accusation.
Pakistan is No. 5 on Open Doors’ 2021 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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