A Christian sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan despite lack of evidence has demonstrated his faith by excelling academically even in prison, Morning Star News reported.
Nouman Masih, 24, recently passed his high school board examination with a very high score, demonstrating his faith in God for a future of freedom, his attorney Lazar Allah Rakha said.
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“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,” said Rakha, according to Morning Star News. “His feat in the examination is testament to his unwavering faith in Christ and of his determination to start life afresh when the Lord acquits him from the false conviction.”
A judge handed Masih the death sentence in May 2023 in a blasphemy case in Bahawalpur District, Punjab Province after a four-year trial, though prosecutors failed to provide any evidence against him, Rakha said. He has been incarcerated since his arrest on July 1, 2019.
‘Transcends the prison wall’
Amid uncertainty and fear, Masih, the son of an impoverished sanitation worker, prepared for the examinations while confined to his cell in the high-security New Central Prison Bahawalpur.
“The prison environment is far from conducive to academic pursuits,” Rakha said. “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.”
Masih was sentenced to death on charges of sharing blasphemous content against Islam in WhatsApp messages.
Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by Morning Star News.
