Mentally Ill Christian Man Acquitted In Landmark Case
A court in Pakistan recently acquitted a Christian man, Farhan Javed Masih, who had faced blasphemy and terrorism charges after the prosecution failed to present convincing evidence. Masih, 28, was arrested in January in Sahiwal on accusations of making derogatory remarks about Islam and its revered figures. The charges were filed under Pakistan’s strict blasphemy laws and the Anti-Terrorism Act, based on a complaint by a local Muslim man. The presiding judge, Zia Ullah Khan, who also oversees the region’s anti-terrorism court, issued the ruling on June 12, citing inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case.
Masih’s lawyer, Kashif Nemat, revealed that his client had struggled with drug addiction and had developed mental health issues, which may have contributed to the situation. He explained that the accusation was allegedly motivated by personal animosity, particularly due to a friendship between Masih and the complainant’s younger brother. Despite efforts to move the trial to a regular court and have Masih undergo a mental health evaluation, the court initially refused. Nemat criticized the trend of linking terrorism charges with blasphemy cases, calling it unjust and said they’ve filed a petition to the Lahore High Court for review.
Key to Masih’s acquittal were contradictions in witness testimonies and the delay in filing the First Information Report (FIR)—over five hours after the alleged incident despite the police station being only a short distance away. These factors led the court to suspect that the charges were brought in bad faith. Although Masih has been released, safety concerns prevent him from returning to his village, and he is now seeking a fresh start elsewhere.
Previously employed in the healthcare sector, Masih lost his job in 2023 due to his addiction and mental health challenges. His acquittal was welcomed by religious freedom advocates, including Tehmina Arora of ADF International, which supported his defense. Arora emphasized the importance of addressing the vulnerability of mentally ill individuals in blasphemy cases and called on Pakistan’s judiciary to evaluate the practice of coupling such charges with terrorism.
Blasphemy laws in Pakistan carry severe penalties, including the death sentence, though no executions have occurred so far. Nevertheless, accusations often result in mob violence and extrajudicial killings. In 2024 alone, 344 new blasphemy cases were reported, the highest number on record, with a majority of the accused being Muslims. The data underscores how these laws are frequently misused, fostering religious intolerance and serious human rights abuses. Pakistan continues to rank among the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians, according to the 2025 World Watch List by Open Doors.