Jamila Jacob, a Pakistani Christian woman who is struggling with mental health issues, was arrested over blasphemy accusations. Jamila was accused of blasphemy by Asif Ali, a shop owner in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. He claims that while in the shop, Jamila was dissatisfied with some goods, and while they were arguing, she committed blasphemy against Muhammad.

Even though eyewitnesses state that it was only a minor dispute between the two people and no blasphemy was committed, the police arrested Jamila after a mob gathered and demanded her arrest. Now, she is charged with blasphemy under Section 295-C of the Pakistani Penal Code, which carries a mandatory death sentence.

Jamila’s case and many other similar cases prove that accusations of blasphemy are often used to settle personal grudges in Pakistan. Most of the time, the accusation causes a mob to gather and either call out the police to act or take action in their own hands, which often has fatal consequences.

Source: Barnabas Aid