An illiterate evangelist in Pakistan who was arrested in December over accusations of blasphemy was cleared of all allegations and released in March.
Babu Shahbaz Masih was arrested after pages of the Qur’an with his name written on them were found in the street.
But police have advised Babu and his family not to return home, as local Muslims are still pressing for him to be charged.
Meanwhile, in a move to crack down on criticism of Islam, Pakistan is spearheading a global effort to counter so-called blasphemous content on social media.
Twenty-two Muslim governments will now collaborate on a strategy paper to be put before the UN to oppose the ‘madness unleashed against Islam and its holy personalities in the name of freedom of expression’.
This follows on immediately from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordering that ‘blasphemous’ content should be removed or blocked on social media, stating: ‘All relevant institutions must unite to hunt those who spread such material and to award them strict punishment under the law.’
