In a deeply troubling incident, police in Pakistan arrested a mentally challenged Christian man on blasphemy charges, despite being fully aware of his condition, sources have revealed.
On January 26, in Sahiwal, Punjab Province, Ghala Mandi police took 28-year-old Farhan Javed Masih into custody after a local villager, Muhammad Bilal Khan, accused him of making derogatory remarks about Islam and its sacred figures. Masih’s mother, Parveen Javed, shared her distressing experience, recalling how a group of villagers, led by Khan, arrived at their home with accusations.
“We were at home when Bilal and some other Muslims came and told us that Farhan had committed blasphemy,” she said. “I pleaded with them to forgive him, considering his mental state, but they refused to listen and called the police.”
Parveen, a widowed mother of three, has struggled to care for her family ever since her husband’s passing six years ago. She explained that Farhan’s mental health deteriorated significantly after his father’s death. His younger sister, Anum, affirmed that his condition was widely known in their village.
“Everyone knows that my brother is mentally unwell. Getting him arrested for blasphemy will only worsen his condition,” she said. “The police should have at least conducted a mental evaluation before registering the FIR [First Information Report] against him.”
A former nursing student, Masih had worked at Adam Welfare Hospital in Sahiwal before being dismissed in 2023 due to mental health issues and drug addiction. His mother painfully recounted his struggles with heroin addiction, which exacerbated his fragile mental state.
“Farhan would loiter around the village, saying absurd things. The entire community knows he is of unsound mind,” she said.
His sister echoed her mother’s concerns, revealing the immense burden on their family. “We are already under so much pressure due to my brother’s illness and addiction. Now, with these serious accusations, we are living in constant fear of what will happen to him.”
Under Pakistan’s stringent blasphemy laws, charges against Masih include Section 295-A, which carries up to 10 years in prison for “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.” He has also been charged under Section 298-A, which criminalizes disrespecting the wives and companions of Prophet Muhammad, as well as Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which pertains to causing civil unrest and carries a minimum five-year jail term.
The complaint filed by Bilal Khan alleges that Masih confronted him while he was heading to water his crops and made inflammatory remarks about Islam and Muslims. However, religious leaders and human rights advocates argue that Masih’s mental state should have been taken into account before registering such serious charges.
Bishop Abraham Daniel of the Baptist Church in Sahiwal highlighted the vulnerability of the Christian community, which consists of 150 to 200 families in the village.
“When I received news of the incident, I immediately contacted senior police officials and requested security for Christian residents,” he said. “Fortunately, timely police deployment prevented any violence, and the situation remains peaceful.”
Daniel emphasized that Masih’s mental illness should have precluded his arrest. “Farhan cannot control his mind and does not understand the seriousness of his words. He did not commit blasphemy intentionally, and the authorities must consider his mental state while handling this case.”
Moderator Bishop Azad Marshall of the Church of Pakistan condemned the police’s actions, stating that a senior officer should have intervened, given Masih’s evident mental instability.
“Farhan’s case raises serious concerns about the ability of the accused to understand or commit the alleged offense,” Marshall said. “We have long called for reforms to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, but our pleas continue to be ignored. Every day, innocent people are falling victim to false accusations.”
Marshall also raised concerns over reports of organized groups deliberately entrapping individuals in blasphemy cases, further exacerbating religious persecution in Pakistan.
“Hundreds of people, including Muslims, are being accused and jailed for blasphemy. Despite media coverage and the National Commission for Human Rights highlighting the issue, no significant action has been taken to dismantle these networks,” he said.
The arrest of Farhan Javed Masih underscores the urgent need for reforms in Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, particularly when dealing with individuals suffering from mental illness. As his family faces an agonizing wait for justice, human rights organizations and religious leaders continue to demand fairness, compassion, and accountability from the authorities.