Mariyum Lal

Additional Name(s): Mariam Lal

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: April/9/2021

Date of Release: September/23/2021

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Texts)

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy

Mariyum Lal

Extra Bio Info:

Mariyum Lal was detained for blasphemy.

On April 9, 2021, authorities arrested Lal, who is a nurse, and her coworker, Newsh Arooj, after an incident at their workplace. According to reporting, the two were accused of "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B PPC) after removing decorations and stickers from a wall inside Civil Hospital in Faisalabad, Punjab. Lal was allegedly assaulted by a coworker during the incident. Police reportedly detained the two nurses after a mob gathered around the hospital demanding their punishment.

In late April 2021, four UK parliamentarians called for the dropping of charges against Lal.

On September 23, 2021, Lal was released on bail.

Lal is reportedly a single mother with a teenage daughter.

Related Cases: Newsh Arooj

Sources:

"Pakistan: Unprecedented bail for Christian nurses" Church In Chains
"Blasphemy charges against Christian nurses Mariyum Lal and Newsh Arooj in Pakistan" UK Parliament
"Authorities in Pakistan Block Press Conference Regarding Blasphemy Accusations" International Christian Concern (ICC)
"Christian Nurses Arrested under Blasphemy Law in Pakistan" Morning Star News
"Two Christian Nurses in Pakistan Falsely Accused of Blasphemy by Muslim Coworker" International Christian Concern (ICC)