Two Christians in Pakistan are facing blasphemy charges under laws that can carry the death penalty, with rights groups raising concerns about the possibility of false accusations and the safety of those involved.
Police in Lahore arrested 26-year-old Samuel Arif on 29 August after a Muslim man accused him of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad and his wife, Aisha. The complainant also alleged that Arif harassed his minor daughters.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the alleged incident took place on the evening of 28 August in the Staff Colony of Punjab University. The complainant, Muhammad Umair Alam Khan, alleged that Arif told his daughters that the Prophet Muhammad had appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to marry them. He also accused Arif of making offensive remarks about the Prophet and Aisha.
Khan further alleged that Arif had put an unidentified substance on his hands and tried to apply it to the girls' faces. He said the girls escaped and that Arif followed them to their home. The incident was reportedly captured by a CCTV camera.
Police registered the case under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which concerns derogatory remarks against Muhammad and carries the death penalty. Arif was also charged under Section 298-A, which covers derogatory remarks concerning Muhammad's wives, family members and companions and currently carries a prison sentence of up to three years.
Sohail Habil of aid organisation HARDS Pakistan said Arif's family rejected the allegations and believed he may have been targeted because of a personal dispute.
Habil said Arif's family had lived in the university's Staff Colony for more than a decade while his father, Arif Masih, worked there as a sanitary worker. After his father's death, the family moved to Saint Mary's Colony in Gulberg, although Arif continued visiting the Staff Colony to meet friends.
Habil said the circumstances surrounding the accusation would become clearer after the family was able to meet Arif in prison.
A separate case involves 30-year-old Amir Masih, a labourer from Dhala Sharif in Gujranwala District. Police arrested him on 11 August over allegations that he had shared a video on social media comparing Christ and Muhammad.
Masih was charged under Section 295-C, as well as Section 295-A, which concerns deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings and carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years. He was also charged under Section 298, which covers deliberate acts intended to wound religious feelings and carries a prison sentence of up to one year.
Attempts to contact Masih's family were unsuccessful. A local pastor familiar with the case said police had taken members of Masih's family into protective custody at the time of his arrest. The family later went into hiding after Masih was transferred to judicial custody at Gujranwala District Prison.
Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) called on authorities on 29 August to ensure that Masih receives a fair trial and that both he and his family are protected.
The organisation said three Muslims had complained that Masih had hurt their religious sentiments through an alleged comparison between Islam and Christianity. HRFP said its fact-finding team had concerns that Masih, whom it described as an impoverished bonded labourer, may have been falsely implicated. It also questioned whether the social media account from which the video was allegedly posted was authentic.
HRFP stressed that an accusation alone does not establish guilt and called for an independent investigation.
The organisation also reported that several Christian families had left their homes because of fears of possible mob violence following the accusation. Local sources disputed this account, saying tensions had risen initially but the situation had returned to normal after Masih's arrest.
"Amir Masih's case, like all cases involving allegations of religious offense, requires particular care, transparency and impartiality," HRFP President Naveed Walter said. He warned that such accusations can quickly increase tensions and put entire communities at risk, calling on authorities to protect due process, equal treatment under the law and the safety of everyone affected.
Pakistan's blasphemy laws have faced longstanding criticism from human rights organisations and legal experts, who have raised concerns about their potential misuse in personal disputes and other conflicts. Religious minorities have also been among those accused under the laws.
Although Pakistan has not carried out a state execution for blasphemy, accusations have in several cases been followed by mob attacks, extrajudicial killings and lengthy detention while suspects await trial.
Concerns about false cases were also raised during a parliamentary review in July. Government officials told the Senate's Functional Committee on Human Rights that a majority of 333 blasphemy cases registered over five years across four provinces were fabricated.
Officials from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provided data to the committee during its meeting in Islamabad. They acknowledged that personal vendettas, family disputes and other private conflicts were often linked to blasphemy allegations. In some cases, investigations reportedly found insufficient evidence, leading to the dismissal of cases.
Punjab recorded 116 cases under Section 295-C during the period examined, with officials reporting that 56 per cent of those accused were Muslims and 14 per cent belonged to religious minority communities. Sindh recorded 96 cases under Section 295-B, relating to alleged desecration of the Quran, and 29 cases under Section 295-C.
In Sindh, police reported that charge sheets had been filed in 22 of the 29 Section 295-C cases, while two remained under investigation. Three involved unidentified suspects and two FIRs had been quashed because of legal or procedural problems.
Of the 96 Section 295-B cases in Sindh, prosecutors had filed charge sheets in 69. Six remained under investigation, four had been quashed and 17 involved unidentified suspects.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded more than 90 blasphemy cases during the period, while Balochistan recorded 28, according to figures presented to the committee.
Pakistan was ranked eighth in Open Doors' 2026 World Watch List of the 50 countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. The organisation cited discrimination, mob violence, forced conversions, bonded labour and gender-based violence among the challenges facing Christians, while also pointing to weak law enforcement and widespread impunity.
Based on reporting by Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.
