Zareena’s Story

In 2015 Zareena Masih and her family were living in a small village in the Kasur district of the Punjab province in Pakistan. Zareena’s husband Pervaiz worked as a fourth-generation day labourer, and at a local brick-kiln factory. These forms of employment are common for many of Pakistan’s Christians, the majority of whom are illiterate, poorly educated, and vulnerable to abuse.

Pervaiz became involved in a dispute with his employer over payment, and as a result, he was falsely accused of blasphemy. When the police came to arrest him, they beat Zareena badly. ‘The policemen kicked me very hard on my back and I jerked my neck. Now I am unable to stand properly and I cannot do my household work,’ Zareena told us.

After his arrest, Pervaiz was kept in prison, but unusually for a blasphemy case, he was released on bail after just 20 days. Shortly afterwards, however, when he had returned to work, the family suffered further tragedy when their three-year-old daughter drowned in a water container at the brick kiln. Some believe that she was murdered by enemies of the family.

In January 2019 the Kasur Session Court finally acquitted Pervaiz of blasphemy for lack of evidence – but Zareena and her family still live in fear. Pervaiz asked us to pray that Christians in Pakistan will be able to live with their neighbours in peace, harmony and tolerance.

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Through our network of international partners Release International is helping to support oppressed and vulnerable believers like Zareena and Pervaiz in Pakistan and many other countries across the world. To give a gift of love today please click the button below.