Chinese national arrested on blasphemy charges in Pakistan [View all]

Source: Associated Press

Chinese national arrested on blasphemy charges in Pakistan

By RIAZ KHAN
April 17, 2023

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani police arrested a Chinese national on blasphemy charges after he allegedly insulted Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, authorities said Monday. Under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, a conviction for the offense carries the death penalty.

Police identified the man only as Mr. Tian from China and said he was arrested on Sunday night, hours after hundreds of residents and laborers working on a dam project blocked a key highway and rallied to demand his arrest.

The rally took place in the town of Komela — located close to the site of the Dasu Dam, the biggest hydropower project in Pakistan — in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan, according to local police chief Naseer Khan.

Khan said officers quickly responded to the protests by “rescuing and arresting” the Chinese national, ...

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According to Khan, the accusations arose from a workplace disagreement: Tian allegedly became upset and reprimanded two local drivers for taking too much time from work to pray. Other laborers then claimed he had insulted the prophet.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-arrest-china-blasphemy-69be1ac9c22b67a1874eabb0e8a5a437