Free from the death penalty: blind Christian is acquitted of blasphemy

A sessions court in Lahore, capital of Punjab province, on June 22 acquitted Nadeem Masih, 49, blind from birth, of charges under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s blasphemy law, which criminalizes insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

District and sessions judge Saad Salman Khan dismissed the case after finding insufficient evidence to support the prosecution’s allegations.

Masih had been in custody since August 2025. His family claims the charge arose from a dispute with contractors at Nawaz Sharif Park, where he made a living operating a scale for visitors. The family said the contractors harassed him and demanded money. Fearing reprisals, the relatives moved to a shelter and were not available for comment.

What the defense says

Defense lawyer Javed Sahotra said the prosecution’s own evidence weakened the case. “The police report stated that they received information about the alleged blasphemy at 11pm, even though the park closes at 9pm. Two witnesses for the prosecution also gave statements that raised serious questions about the allegations,” he told EWTN News.

Sahotra said prison was especially difficult for Masih because of his disability. “He spent 10 harrowing months in prison. Simple daily tasks like using the toilet and getting food were major challenges. The case demonstrates how vulnerable people can become entangled in serious criminal charges. Even a poor, blind man was not spared.”

How many people have been arrested for blasphemy

Blasphemy remains one of Pakistan’s most sensitive issues and frequently triggers mob violence against religious minorities, including attacks on homes and places of worship.

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s annual report, 812 people were arrested on blasphemy-related charges in Punjab during 2025, including 796 men, 15 women and one minor.

Christian advocacy groups say eight Christians, including two women, were acquitted or granted bail in blasphemy cases during the first half of 2026, all in Punjab province.

Christian group helps with defenses

Over the past five years, Christian Solidarity International (CSI), an international Christian solidarity organization, has helped secure the acquittal of 15 people accused of blasphemy — 10 Christians and five Muslims, including three women.

Anjum James Paul, a CSI partner who helped coordinate legal and financial support for Masih’s family, attributed many acquittals to careful legal preparation.

“We maintain a low profile during such trials due to the sensitivity of these cases. One of the lawyers representing Masih is a Hafiz-e-Quran, a person who has memorized the entire Quran. Having Muslim lawyers on the defense teams can help reduce pressure because some district bar associations discourage professionals from taking on blasphemy cases.”

Paul also called on authorities to implement judicial guidelines requiring the involvement of qualified religious scholars and senior police officers in preliminary blasphemy investigations.

A support group made up of families affected by alleged false blasphemy accusations celebrated the verdict in a social media statement issued hours after the ruling.

The Voice of Victims of Blasphemy Business Group described the acquittal as a rare example of a lower court dismissing a blasphemy case and expressed hope that courts are becoming less vulnerable to public pressure in such cases.

The group claimed Masih was falsely accused following a dispute with park management and said the verdict offers encouragement to other families fighting blasphemy accusations.

©2026 Catholic News Agency. Published with permission. Original in English: Pakistani court acquits blind Catholic man in blasphemy case https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistani-court-acquits-blind-catholic-man-in-blasphemy-case