Pakistan Court Acquits Christian Nurses of Blasphemy Charges
In a significant legal development, two Christian nurses in Pakistan have been acquitted of blasphemy charges after enduring a four-year legal battle. The court’s decision highlighted the inability of the prosecution to substantiate the accusations under Section 295-B, which could have led to life imprisonment.
The nurses, Mariam Lal and Newosh Arooj, faced charges stemming from an incident in 2021, when a senior doctor accused them of desecrating a sticker with an Islamic inscription at Civil Hospital in Faisalabad, Punjab Province. As news of the accusation spread, a hostile crowd attempted to lynch the nurses, prompting authorities to take them into protective custody. They spent five months in detention before being released to await trial under strict security measures.
In November 2025, the district court acquitted the nurses, and the deadline for any appeal passed without action from the authorities, as reported by Aid to the Church in Need. The legal defense was organized by the National Commission for Justice and Peace, supported by Aid to the Church in Need.
Fr. Khalid Rashid Asi from the NCJP praised the decision, emphasizing the judge’s independence and adherence to evidence. He acknowledged the ongoing challenges facing the nurses and highlighted the need for their secure future and dignified reintegration. “Our struggle now continues for the secure future, rehabilitation and dignified reintegration of the nurses,” Asi stated to ACN.
The case is notable for being one of the rare instances where a lower court in Pakistan acquitted defendants in a blasphemy case, which are often deferred to higher courts due to societal pressures. The blasphemy laws in Pakistan, embedded in Sections 295 and 298 of the penal code, have been widely criticized for misuse. These laws, which can impose the death penalty for insulting Islam or Prophet Muhammad, do not penalize false accusations.
Blasphemy laws are frequently used to target religious minorities, including Christians, Shias, Ahmadiyyas, and Hindus. A report by the Centre for Social Justice documented 200 accusations of blasphemy in 2020 alone, with at least 1,855 people charged since 1987.
The international community, including organizations like ACN UK, continues to advocate for the reform of these laws to prevent their abuse against religious minorities. John Pontifex, head of press and public affairs at ACN UK, remarked on the nurses’ resilience, noting that they “never lost hope despite the danger.”
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
