In February 2021, Salamat and his friend Haroon were charged for behaving irreverently because they read the Bible aloud at a public park located in Lahore and offered a Christian book to a non-believer. Read more about this case here : https://gosheninternational.org/remember-salamat-mansha-and-haroon-ayub-in-your-prayers/ and https://gosheninternational.org/pakistan-christian-man-tortured-into-false-confession/.
Haroon and his family managed to escape arrest and went into hiding but Salamat was detained. Despite the efforts of his lawyer, the chances of Salamat being granted bail in such a case were previously considered very slim. However, after having spent more than 18 months in prison, it is now reported that Salamat was granted bail on 23 August. The Court ordered that Salamat be protected until the charges against him are resolved.
In February 2018, Patras was detained for allegedly sharing a picture on social media that was deemed insulting. He was eventually granted bail and released until the case is resolved. The judge who granted bail ruled that the image was not insulting and there was no evidence that it was uploaded by Patras.
In another unrelated case, Raja, a lay minister with the Anglican Church, was arrested in December 2021 after sharing a Facebook post. Despite Pastor Raja’s apology, hundreds of opposing members of the community held demonstrations calling for his death. The judge in this case released Pastor Raja on bail based on his lawyer’s argument that Pastor Raja was not facing any charges punishable by death.
We praise and thank God that the judges appointed in these cases have endeavored to rule equitably and the Christians have been released. We pray for divine protection over each believer and their respective families. Pray that justice will be upheld and all the accused will be acquitted.
(Source & Photo : VOMC)
#Persecuted Church
