Blasphemy accusations used as a weapon of persecution are nothing new in Pakistan. What is new, according to a report published in June 2026, is the existence of an organized, professional network that actively seeks to entrap Christians and other religious minorities using fabricated accusations. Members of this network, which could be called the "blasphemy industry", deliberately work to provoke and then report members of religious minorities, turning the legal system into a tool of extortion and systematic persecution.
Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, especially Sections 295-B and 295-C of the Penal Code, prescribe life imprisonment or the death penalty for anyone who insults Islam or the Prophet Muhammad. In practice, these laws have been disproportionately applied against Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadi Muslims. Once a blasphemy accusation is made, defendants often remain in pretrial detention for years awaiting trial, even when the accusation is blatantly false, because judges and police officers fear being seen as "defenders of blasphemers". The mere rumor of blasphemy has been enough to trigger lynchings and attacks on entire communities.
The report documents how agents of the "blasphemy industry" approach unsuspecting Christians in everyday situations, record conversations that are edited out of context, and present them to the police as "evidence" of blasphemy. In some cases, simply keeping a Bible or sharing Christian content on a mobile phone has been enough to trigger an accusation. Organizations such as ADF International, Release International, and Barnabas Fund have been working to provide legal assistance to victims of these fabricated accusations, but the number of cases far exceeds their capacity to respond.
Pray for all Pakistani Christians facing false blasphemy accusations, asking for their immediate release and divine protection. Intercede for the lawyers and activists who risk their own lives to defend victims of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Ask God to move the hearts of Pakistani lawmakers to reform these laws, which are systematically used to persecute minorities. Cry out for the Church in Pakistan to remain courageous and united, and for the gospel to continue transforming lives even in the country ranked number 7 on the World Watch List.
