ASIA/PAKISTAN – Christian man tried for blasphemy on social media acquitted

Sargodha – Haroon Shehzad, a 49-year-old Pakistani Christian from Sargodha , who had been charged and tried for blasphemy, was acquitted by the Sargodha District Court on November 8. This was confirmed to Fides by attorney Aneeqa Maria Anthony of “The Voice Society”, who defended Haroon in court for two years. “The Voice” expressed satisfaction because “the man can return to his family” but emphasized the severe suffering he and his family endured simply because he posted a Bible passage on Facebook.In June 2023, Haroon Shehzad was charged with blasphemy for sharing, without comment, a passage from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians on social media platforms such as Facebook . The passage, posted without comment, reads: “Look at Israel according to the flesh; are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? So what am I saying? That meat sacrificed to idols is anything? Or that an idol is anything? No, I mean that what they sacrifice, to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to become participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons. Or are we provoking the Lord to jealous anger? Are we stronger than he?”
The post, which contained a passage from the Holy Scriptures, was maliciously distorted by a Muslim believer from the village of Chak 49 North, near Sargodha, and portrayed as an insult to the Islamic festival of sacrifice, “Eid-Ul-Azha”.
The man called for a collective response from Muslims: Tensions and violence erupted in the community, forcing dozens of Christian families, including Haroon’s, to flee their homes. Under these circumstances, “The Voice Society” team stepped in to help Haroon and his family, offering him refuge in a safe location.
After filing a First Information Report with the police, The Voice Society provided Shehzad with comprehensive legal assistance. Although the Sargodha District Court judge had released Haroon on bail, he was later taken into custody when he presented himself at the police station. The trial at the Court of First Instance began under intimidating circumstances: At the hearing on July 11, 2023, the presence of approximately 150 Islamic clerics and protesters created an atmosphere of intense pressure, leading the judge to revoke his bail.
After Haroon was transferred to prison, his lawyers filed a new bail application with the Lahore High Court, which granted it in November 2023. During the subsequent trial, “The Voice Society” continued its work despite the dangers: “We remained steadfast to our duty, taking care of both his legal defense and his safety. This dedication was rewarded on November 8, 2025, when the court heard the final arguments and acquitted Haroon Shehzad completely,” attorney Aneeqa Maria Anthony reported today.
“This legal victory is a significant moment of justice, achieved despite pressure and intimidation. I want to emphasize the extreme vulnerability of religious minorities. Today, Haroon is free, but we fear for his life; he could become a victim of arbitrary attacks. The challenges we face in achieving true justice and equal rights in Pakistani society remain vast and profound,” she concludes.

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