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Illiterate and in his 70s, Aslam Masih was accused in November 1998 of preparing a charm with verses from the Quran to hang around a dog's neck. The defendant, who was badly beaten and never given proper medical treatment, has been jailed without bail ever since.

The prosecution's star witness denied before Judge Saleem's court that he had even been present at the incident or lodged any complaint against the elderly Christian. "He accused the police of making up his statement," the Daily Times reported May 9. His defense lawyers had also argued that it violated criminal procedure codes for the sessions court to hear this particular case, since it had not been registered by either provincial or federal government representatives.

The high court appeal for Aslam Masih, who reportedly is "very weak physically, and shaking all the time," is expected by his lawyers to take at least two more years.

Currently two Christians are on Pakistan's death row on blasphemy charges, with five more appealing life sentences and an additional three still under trial, awaiting their verdicts.

Copyright © 2002 Compass Direct

Previous Christianity Today articles on Masih's plight include:

Death-row Christian May Hang for 'Blasphemy' | Family pins hopes for release on attorney's novel argument (May 29, 2002)

High Court Injustice | What you can do to help persecuted Christians in Pakistan. (November 14, 2001)

Condemned Prisoner Appeals for Help | Sentenced to death in 1998, Ayub Masih continues to fight "baseless and concocted" blasphemy charge. (October 19, 2001)

Pakistani Bishop's Death Sparks Riots | Suicide was in protest of the death sentence pronounced on Ayub Masih, 25, by a local judge. (June 15, 1998)

Christian Solidarity Worldwide has a special page on Ayub Masih's story.

For more articles, see Christianity Today's areas on persecution and Pakistan.

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July (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46