Pakistani Christian acquitted of blasphemy charges discloses attempts to convert him to Islam 
 

By Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service in PakistanLAHORE, PAKISTAN (ANS) – A Pakistani Christian, Ranjha Masih, who was acquitted of blasphemy charges by High Court on November 10, has told the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), after his release that attempts were made by jail officials and many Muslims from across the country to make him convert to Islam.

A Pakistani Christian, Ranjha Masih, who was acquitted of blasphemy charges by High Court on November 10, has told the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), after his release that attempts were made by jail officials and many Muslims from across the country to make him convert to Islam.Masih made this disclosure in a testimony he gave to CLAAS, which was sent to ANS by Jubilee Campaign, USA.

“The police, administration, and other prisoners constantly pressured me to convert to Islam. They told me that I could get out of the prison just by reciting the Kalma (the Arabic verses testifying to Muslim faith),”said Ranjha Masih in his testimony.

Masih, who claimed he remained steadfast in Christian faith further said in his testimony, “One day, an officer brought Quran, the Muslim holy book, and asked me to take it and recite the Kalma [the central statement of faith in Islam.”

The officer, Ranjha alleged in his testimony, told him he could avoid further imprisonment by converting to Islam.

“I told him that if being released from prison meant forsaking Jesus Christ, then I did not want to be released.”

“Many people from different parts of the country got in touch with me and invited me into the fold of Islam, promising to get me out of prison but I flatly refused them all,” said his testimony.

“During this trying time, hundreds of cards and letters poured in from around the world strengthening my faith and encouraging me to fight back and resist evil. I am thankful to Jesus for all the encouragement and love”, it said.

Describing persecution he faced during eight years and seven month imprisonment he said in his testimony: “During my imprisonment I was beaten everyday; they blind-folded me, tied my hands behind my back, tied my feet and then beat me with clubs, sticks, kicking, and slapping me. They treated me worse than the animals.

“When I was first brought to the prison, the jail administrator announced that no one was allowed to talk to me. On many occasions they locked me in a cell all day.

“I had to bribe the guards to let me out of my cell for one or two hours. They often gave me very tough work to do. Throughout all this it was His grace and love that helped me to remain steadfast,” his testimony added.

“The guards asked me to name other Christians so that they could arrest and implicate them. On one occasion, they took me to a remote area and told me to run away. I refused and told them that they would have to kill me, and tell the world that I was killed in a police encounter.

“Another time, they beat me almost senseless trying to get me to name a fellow believer. They kept asking me to speak up, but I remained silent. While they were beating me, I started to sing a Christian hymn. When they demanded to know what I was saying I replied, “You were beating me to make me speak. Now I am speaking and you have problem with that.”

Masih who termed his acquittal “a great miracle” his life further said: “During the past eight years my wife and children have suffered greatly, but they have shown immense courage, patience, and forbearance. I am thankful to Jesus for my wonderful family.”

“One day my grand-daughter visited me in jail; she comforted me with the gentle reminder that Jesus would get me out at His appointed time.”

Masih also tendered his thanks to CLAAS and Wasim Muntizar, who he said helped him throughout my incarceration.

“They worked tirelessly to get me out of prison. When I was first arrested, my wife asked everyone we knew to help with my case, including some influential Christian clergy, but at that time none of them helped us. CLAAS is the only group who was willing to take on my case; because of this I am so thankful to God for them”, said Ranjha Masih in his testimony.

A CLAAS news release alleged Ranjha is in very poor health due to what it called “the atrocious conditions in the jail and repeated beatings Ranjha suffered.”

It said, “He suffers from hemorrhoids, severe knee joint pains because of rheumatoid arthritis, insomnia, and diabetes.

“In jail he was denied proper medical attention, as a result many of his ailments have grown progressively worse. Last night, (November 23) he was admitted to a private hospital for diabetes treatment and tomorrow (November 25) he will undergo surgery. His wife is staying with him, along with a CLAAS staff member.”

The news release has also urged believers to pray for the operation Masih has to undergo as well as for his quick recovery.

It described situation in Pakistani city of Faisalabad as tense, claiming that Muslims enraged over acquittal of Masih had threatened taking out protest demonstrations on November 24 and 25.

The Daily Khabrain (Urdu Daily) published an article reporting that Ranjha was released on special orders by the Inspector of General Prisons, Punjab as a goodwill gesture on the arrival of Mr. Tony Blair, British Prime Minister.