Mashih was arrested on the 1st of July 2019 for allegedly sharing blasphemous anti-Islamic messages via WhatsApp. Even though the prosecution failed to provide proper evidence against him, the judge sentenced the young man to death.  

According to Lazar Allah Rakha, the young man’s attorney: “I’m very happy that instead of descending into depression after being put on death row, Masih put his faith in the Lord and has kept his hope for freedom alive despite the dismal circumstances. His feat in the examination is a testament to his unwavering faith in Christ and his determination to start life afresh when the Lord acquits him from the false conviction. The prison environment is far from conducive to academic pursuits. Yet, this young man’s dedication to his studies has been nothing less than remarkable. With limited resources and access to educational materials, he managed to prepare for his exams, demonstrating a thirst for knowledge that transcends the prison walls.”

Mashih was acquitted this February for the same incident. Apparently, the police charged him twice with the same crime. They filed two cases against him in two separate cities, Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur. His lawyer said that officers had acted with a mala fide intent to punish him in two blasphemy cases registered within three days: “The police also tried to prosecute him in an anti-terrorism court, although the case did not fall under terrorism. I resisted their attempt and argued that the sessions court hear the case. The police’s prejudicial attitude towards Masih insinuates that someone wanted to see him suffer at all costs.”

Masih expressed interest in taking the board examination and applied to be registered with the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Bahawalpur. His attorney endorsed him for this: “This system has helped several prisoners to reform themselves through education. We hope that the Lahore High Court will fix Masih’s appeal for hearing as soon as possible so that he can prepare for the next exam as a free man.” 

The young man’s father, Asghar Masih, expressed his gratitude during these difficult times and said how proud his son’s faith has made him: “We cannot thank God enough for gracing our son with this achievement. He has remained steadfast in his faith; he has been reading the Bible and praying regularly since the day he was sent to prison. Other than that, he has focused only on his studies. This success in the examination has renewed our hope for his freedom. My son has shown that he is determined to begin a new life, and we believe that our Lord has heard our pleas.”

Source: https://morningstarnews.org/