A 25-year-old Christian man in Lahore, Pakistan, has been granted rare bail after being accused of blasphemy by his Muslim neighbours.
Maan Shaukat Masih, a tailor from Nishat Colony, was accused of tearing down a religious banner during celebrations for Eid Milad-Un-Nabi.
Fearing violence, his family voluntarily handed him over to police on 7th September, but a court freed him on bail the following day.
“This is a rare case in which a person accused of blasphemy has been freed on bail after spending only a few hours behind bars,” said Sohail Habil from HARDS Pakistan.
He told Christian Daily International that this was "made possible only by the grace of our Lord, who answered the prayers of Masih’s family and other Christians in the neighborhood".
Masih said he was shocked by the allegations: “I had no idea that our discussion, even though it wasn’t offensive, would result in my arrest on a charge as serious as blasphemy.
"When the judge ordered my release on bail, I could not express the joy and happiness I felt at that moment. I cannot thank God enough for listening to my parents’ prayers and rescuing me.”
Pakistan’s blasphemy laws carry the death penalty, though no executions have been carried out.
Human Rights Watch says the laws are often misused to target minorities, fuel mob violence and seize property.