A blasphemy charge against a Christian family father has sparked an attack in Pakistan. Over 35 Christian families fled out of fear of violence.
On October 9, 2026, people from a crowd set fire to Kamran Masih's home and shop in the village of Gharial Kalan in the Punjab province. This is reported by Christian Daily International/Morning Star News.
The 40-year-old father of three had been arrested the day before on charges of sharing a video on WhatsApp that the prosecutors described as blasphemous.
According to media sources, the police prevented attacks on the properties of other Christians. A Christian politician reported that over 15 people had been arrested after the arson attack.
Accusations affect entire local community
The Danish European Mission has previously described how blasphemy accusations can have serious consequences for entire Christian communities in Pakistan. The danger comes not only from a court case, but also from mobs that attack people and property before a charge is tried in a court of law.
In August 2023, 21 churches were attacked in Jaranwala after blasphemy accusations against two Christian brothers, Umair Saleem and Umar Saleem. Hundreds of Christians fled, and homes and shops were damaged and looted. A school in the nearby city of Faisalabad, which the Danish European Mission had supported in its construction, was also attempted to be burned down.
The brothers were acquitted in March 2024. Nevertheless, their lawyer at the time said that they could not return home safely because of threats to their lives. An acquittal therefore did not mean that they could live in safety again.
Read also: Christians in Jaranwala, Pakistan, acquitted of blasphemy charges
Uncertainty for Christians
In the background article on Christians in Pakistan by Dansk Europamission, self-harm is described as a serious part of the minority's vulnerability. According to figures from the Center for Research and Security Studies, 104 people of Christian or other backgrounds were killed between 1947 and May 2024 due to blasphemy accusations or criticism of the blasphemy law.
The figures do not concern executions carried out by the authorities, but about people killed without trial by their own hands. They emphasize why the accusation itself can create fear far beyond the individual family.
