Pakistan
Pakistani Christians face an uneasy Christmas in the wake of Asia Bibi’s release
By Bob Smietana — December 20, 2018
LAHORE, Pakistan (RNS) — The fallout from the release of Bibi — whose death sentence for blasphemy was rescinded this year — has left Pakistan's Christians wary of a backlash this Christmas.
Asia Bibi, in hiding after blasphemy acquittal, is banned from leaving Pakistan
By Bob Smietana — November 30, 2018
LAHORE, Pakistan (RNS) — Exoneration in a blasphemy case in Pakistan rarely means one can start afresh. Instead, those acquitted face persecution from religious groups that refuse to recognize the jurisdiction of the courts.
Blasphemy law is repealed in Ireland but remains a problem for Christian and Muslims
By Steve Pinkerton — November 8, 2018
(The Conversation) — In an increasingly pluralist, multicultural West, blasphemy laws find fresh purpose in policing intolerance between religious communities.
Canadian broadcaster offers to sponsor Christian woman spared death in Pakistan
By John Longhurst — November 6, 2018
TORONTO (RNS) — Asia Bibi has been living in a safe house in Pakistan since being acquitted of blasphemy, unable to leave for fear of her life from Islamist mobs.
Asia Bibi acquitted of blasphemy in Pakistan, freed from death row
By Bob Smietana — October 31, 2018
LAHORE, Pakistan (RNS) — Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian mother who faced the death penalty for allegedly blaspheming against the Prophet Muhammad, was acquitted after spending years on death row.
US-bound Ahmadi leader models a different kind of Islamic caliphate
By Aysha Khan — October 3, 2018
(RNS) — Now 15 years into his caliphate, Mirza Masroor Ahmad is heading to the U.S. to meet his growing community and share his message of world peace through prayers.
Stop the ‘weaponization’ of religion in Pakistani politics
By Johnnie Moore — July 24, 2018
(RNS) For Pakistan’s Christians and minority Ahmadi Muslims, the run-up to Wednesday’s (July 25) elections has been terrifying. Now, without sustained pressure on the vote's winners, the country's religious minorities will soon face an existential threat.
Pope to new cardinals: Defend dignity of others
By Frances D'Emilio — June 28, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Thursday gave the church 14 new cardinals, exhorting them to resist temptations toward vanity and to stay on mission, which he specified means serving the needy instead of their own interests.
Pakistanis hopeful as Pope Francis elevates country’s second-ever cardinal
By Katelyn Beaty — June 26, 2018
LAHORE, Pakistan (RNS) — Pakistan’s second-ever cardinal of the Catholic Church is slated to be installed on June 29. The country's Christian minority hopes the appointment will draw attention to religious persecution.
Francis cardinals make up almost half of electors of next pope
By Thomas Reese — May 22, 2018
(RNS) — Pope Francis continues to remake the College of Cardinals so that almost half of the men who will choose his successor have been chosen by him.
North Korea is worst place for Christian persecution, group says
By Kimberly Winston — January 10, 2018
(RNS) — Afghanistan is a close second in an annual list from a Christian rights watchdog organization.
Pakistan man exonerated after serving 9 years for blasphemy
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — December 31, 2017
(AP) Blasphemy laws are a life-or-death issue in Pakistan's conservative society, with harsh prison sentences or execution for lawbreakers.
Family looks for answers after Christian boy beaten to death in Pakistan
By Amel Ghani — October 20, 2017
(RNS) — A fellow student will face trial for kicking a 17-year-old boy to death — a crime committed out of hatred toward Christians, the dead teenager's parents say.
Escaping Pakistani persecution, Ahmadi activist finds refuge — and purpose — in US
By Madiha Waris Qureshi — August 1, 2017
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Given his fiery online writings about minority rights — a potential death sentence for Pakistani activists and journalists — Ehsan Rehan was forced to leave his native coutry.
To escape abusive marriages, many Christians in Pakistan convert to Islam
By Yonat Shimron — June 7, 2017
LAHORE, Pakistan (RNS) Muslims can obtain a divorce for a variety of reasons, including irreconcilable differences. For Christians, it's not so easy.
