Christian, 18, Charged with Blasphemy in Pakistan Wins Bail

03/15/2024

6 3 minutes read

Following a day and night of hiding in the jungle, Aayatu Podiyami reported the incident at Tongpal police station. On Feb. 8, officers summoned the village representatives to the police station and negotiated an agreement between residents and the village leaders, citing the individual right to religious freedom. No formal complaint was registered.

Ashbeel Ghauri was arrested on March 6 after a former classmate, Muslim Sheraz Gulistan, accused him of blaspheming Islam in a WhatsApp discussion group in January. He was charged under Section 295-A of Pakistan’s blasphemy statutes for hurting religious sentiments, punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a fine, or both.

Ghauri, who described himself as an introvert, said most of his time in jail was spent studying the Bible and other religious literature and praying.

“I love Jesus Christ, and I take pride in my Christian faith, but I did not like it when Sheraz and others raised questions about Christ’s life,” he said. My interest in studying different religions, including Islam, has taught me how to respond to criticism of Christianity with academic references.”

Ghauri said discussions started heating up after a war broke out between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip last October.

“Sheraz used to curse Israel whenever he used to bring up the topic,” he said. His profanities against God’s chosen people naturally offended me, so I used to ignore him. I think this, too, angered him.”

The Christian said he was taken to Attock jail on judicial remand on March 7. The police did not harm him while he was in their custody for a night.

“Except for one constable, the attitudes of all the other policemen were fine,” Ghauri said. “When I was being taken to the magistrate’s court for seeking my judicial remand, that constable locked the handcuff on my wrist so tightly that it hurt me. When I complained about the pain, the constable said he would have tightened the handcuff even more because of the allegation against me.”

Prison officials did not keep him in the barrack where all other blasphemy suspects are housed, he said.

“I was locked up in a small room all alone. My time there was spent praying and reading the Bible, and I fasted for three days. One particular verse that kept me strong was God’s promise to Joshua, where he says, ‘As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” (Joshua 1:5)

The youth, who plans to pursue a career in computer sciences, said he missed his younger brother while incarcerated.

“I missed my parents greatly, but I missed my younger brother the most. He’s not just my brother but also my best friend,” he said. “Every day, I recalled how he would ask me to play football and other games with him. I’m thrilled that God has enabled me to reunite with my family.”

Ghauri said his time in jail, where blasphemy suspects are often kept for months or years awaiting trial outcomes, had strengthened his Christian faith.

“I’d say I’ve also become wiser and more patient after this incident. I don’t know when I’ll be completely free from this case, but it has reaffirmed my faith that Christ is truly my Savior,” he said.

Beaming joyfully, his father, Babar Ghauri, said they were on edge regarding his bail petition.

“I was told we could have some security issues, so it was better to leave our house for some days. Even today, when we went to the prison to bring Ashbeel, the authorities told us to take the car inside the jail [compound] and discreetly transport him out.”

Babar Ghauri said concerns about his family’s security would remain until his son is acquitted.

The family’s lawyer, Nadeem Hassan, said Attock Judicial Magistrate Syed Naseer Abbas had granted Ashbeel bail against surety bonds amounting to 100,000 rupees (US$358).