Source: www.worthynews.com
Date: July 25, 2024
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – A young Christian man who is on death row in Punjab Province, Pakistan, for alleged blasphemy has drawn admiration from those around him for displaying such hope in Christ that he passed a high school examination with an eye to the future, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Nouman Masih, 24, was sentenced to death by a court in Bahawalpur District, Punjab Province in May 2023, MSN reports. He was convicted of sharing blasphemous content against Islam in WhatsApp messages, although his lawyer said there was no evidence he had done so. Masih has been in prison since his arrest on July 1, 2019.
In a statement to MSN, Masih’s attorney, Lazar Allah Rakha, said the young Christian is doing remarkably well despite his horrible situation. “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,” Rakha said. “His feat in the examination is a testament to his unwavering faith in Christ and of 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,” Rakha continued. “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.”
In a separate statement to MSN, Masih’s father, Ashgar, said: “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.”
With harsh, frequently abused anti-blasphemy laws, Islamic-majority Pakistan ranks 7 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.