Gender: Male
Current Location: Central Jail, Hyderabad
Perpetrator: Pakistan
Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other
Health Concerns: Mental disability
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: Life Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: June/4/2015
Date of Sentencing: September/28/2018
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Blasphemy (Religious Texts)
Nature of Charges: Blasphemy
Yaqoob Bashir Masih is imprisoned for blasphemy.
On June 4, 2015, authorities arrested Masih after he was accused of burning a booklet containing Qur'anic text. Prior to his arrest, a mob reportedly used violence against him following the incident. He was reportedly charged with "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B PPC) and "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC).
On September 28, 2018, the Session and District Court of Mirpurkhas reportedly found Masih guilty of "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC) and sentenced him to life in prison. The court found Masih not guilty of "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B PPC).
Masih reportedly suffers from mental disability.
The Voiceless Victims of Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws International Christian Concern (ICC)
"Mentally Disabled Pakistani Christian Sentenced to Life in Prison" International Christian Concern (ICC)