A Young Husband Faces Blasphemy Charges
To protect this person’s identity and security, a pseudonym is being used, and identifying details have been withheld.
“Samuel Masih” (pseudonym) has been in custody since mid-2024 while facing blasphemy and cybercrime charges in Pakistan. His trial has not yet begun, and he continues to deny the allegations against him.
Arrest and Charges
“Samuel” was arrested in early June 2024 while traveling to another part of the country to take temporary employment at a hotel. He had married only a few months earlier and planned to work for several months before returning home.
According to his family, men in plain clothes stopped the bus near a major transport interchange and took Samuel away. He was subsequently arrested and charged.
The case was registered through a federal cybercrime investigation office under provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
Samuel denies the allegations. His family maintains that he did not knowingly create or transmit any unlawful or blasphemous material.
Questions About His Use of Technology
Samuel’s family describes him as illiterate and having limited knowledge of mobile phones and digital technology. Although he owned a basic mobile phone, they say he was unable to read messages or navigate applications independently. The family believes that material may have been transmitted through his phone without his knowledge or understanding.
The allegations have not been established at trial.
Family Background
Samuel comes from a family that has experienced severe economic hardship for generations. They worked as bonded laborers on farms and in private homes before eventually gaining their freedom from bonded labor. The family subsequently relied largely on irregular daily-wage employment.
Samuel grew up in an extended household that included his parents, siblings, and other relatives. According to the family, their income was often insufficient to meet basic needs, including food, clothing and medical expenses.
When his mother became seriously ill, the family was unable to afford the medical treatment she required. She died, leaving the household in an even more difficult financial position.
The family’s economic circumstances limited Samuel’s access to education, and he remains illiterate.
More Than Two Years Awaiting Trial
Samuel has now spent more than two years in custody, while proceedings against him remain unresolved. His family has sought his release on bail while the case proceeds. They say that the PECA-related charges have made obtaining bail particularly difficult.
According to a relative, Samuel’s lawyer has visited him only a few times during the past two years. The family’s financial circumstances have also made it difficult to maintain regular legal support or attend proceedings in the district where the case is being heard.
Additionally, with Samuel unable to work, the household has lost an important source of income.
“We do not even have enough food to feed our family. How can we afford to travel for every hearing?” the family has said.
Despite these difficulties, Samuel’s family continue to hope that the case will proceed fairly and that the evidence will be examined through the judicial process.
“We have placed our trust in God. Only He can give us justice now,” they said.
How CAPC Is Supporting Vulnerable Families
Canadian Aid to Persecuted Christians (CAPC) assists Christian families who face legal, financial and other difficulties related to persecution and vulnerability.
Cases such as Samuel’s can place significant financial pressure on families who are already struggling to meet basic needs. Support from donors helps CAPC provide assistance with legal representation and other essential needs.
We ask supporters to pray for Samuel, his family and those involved in his case. Please pray that the proceedings will move forward without unnecessary delay, that the evidence will be considered carefully and impartially, and that a just outcome will be reached.