Newsh Arooj

Additional Name(s): Navish Arooj

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

Newsh Arooj

Extra Bio Info:

Newsh Arooj was detained for blasphemy.

On April 9, 2021, authorities arrested Arooj, who is a nurse, and her coworker, Mariyum Lal, 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. Police reportedly detained the two after a mob gathered around the hospital demanding their punishment.

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

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

Arooj is reportedly engaged.

Related Cases: Mariyum Lal

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)